Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-16
God In The Constitution.

1t will doubtless be a matter of in
terest to our readers to know that the
House Judiciary Committee rejected
the proposed amendment to the pre-
amble of the I. :. Constitution,
urged by Congressman Morse, which
aims to secure a distinct acknowl-
edgment of Almighty God as the
source Of all power aud authority in
civil government. This preamble,
as our fathers wrote it and as it still
stands, reads as follows:
We, the people of the United
States, in order to form a more per-
feet Union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the gen
eral welfare, and secure the blessings
OF liberty to ourselves and our pos
tcrity, do Ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America"
1t is proposed to incorporate after
the words eve, the people of the
United States" the words "acknowl-
edging Almighty God as the source
Of all power and authority in civil
government, the Lord Jesus Christ
rs the Ruler Of Nations, and His re-
vealed will as of supreme authority
in civil affairs"
This is what is known as the "God
in the Constitution" amendment.
The committee wisely rejected it.,
believing that it would excite alarm
in various quarters because Of an ap-
prehension that it would prove to be
the beginning of a long and bitter
contest over religious questions, with
which the government, as such, has
no concern and should not encourage.
We don't believe that any good
would come of the discussion that
must inevitably arise out of per-
sistent effort (should there be one)
to amend the Constitution as pro-
posed, for such discussion would
come at time when, as we all see,
there is great freedom of thought
and disposition to re-examine the
foundations of faith, when the minds
OF many arc more or less unbalanced
and in doubt and when the forces of
intidelity are bold and aggressive
and could readily be arrayed and con-
solidated into active opposition.
The rapid growth of Christianity
in the United States demonstrates
the wisdom of our fathers in guaran-
teeing to all the widest religious lib
erty and in refusing to commit the
government, as such, to the recogni-
ton of any religious dogma, creed
or doctrine. There is no such thing
as religious persecution in this coun-
try-our laws guaranteeing to every
man the absolute right to worship
God according 20 the dictates of his
own conscience or not to worship al
all if he does not feel so disposed.
Our fathers had read the history of
religious prosecutions in other lands
and knew what crimes fanaticism
and misguided faith had committed
in Gods name.
Whilst this is Christian nation in
the sense that the Christian creed is
the predominant faith of the people,
still it should not be forgotten that
it is, at the same time, land of lib
erty, an asylum for the oppressed Of
all nations, to which Jew, Gentle,
Buddhist, Brahman and Mohamme.
dan may come, and, under his own
vine and fig tree, enjoy the fullest
liberty of religious belief and action,
with none to modest or make him
afraid. Here we have a funda-
mental principle of our government
and institutions and none other is
founded in greater wisdom. Then,
leave the Constitution alone.