The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-21
THE CHURCH AND STATE.
! Their Duties to Each Other Pointed
Ont by Rev. II. r. Morgan.

Rev. E. F. Morgan, pastor of Marvin
church, preached last night upon the sub
ject Of THE True Relations Existing be-
tween Church and State" His text was
Luke 2O:25. And He Said Unto Them,
Render Therefore Unto Caesar the Things
Which be Caesars and Unto God. the
Things Which Be Gods"
Mr.. Morgan stated as his opening prop
osition that there are duties and RESPONSE
blllties incumbent upon all Christian peo-
pie, both as 70 the state and as to God.
Politics and religion are separate and dis
tinct Should the state endeavor to ANAL
gamate with the church or vice versa?
he asked. The former would lose its NOR
al manhood and the religion OF the latter
would degenerate into a mere Formally.
Mr.. Morgan substantiated this position
by a reference to historical precedents
He assumed, however, as indisputable
that though entirely different organiza-
lions, each preserving its own autonomy,
still their interests are largely identical,
and therefore they are mutually interde-
pendent upon each other. This being
true, there are reciprocal relations existing
between the two that demand an earnest
consideration.
AHt Sldlb uGDeHuS upOii lAIC ChhA NAl Iva
its existence, therefore the church is the
best friend the state possesses. The state
owes the duty. to the church to evince q
friendly spirit in such legislation as may
affect the interests Of the latter, to pro-
tect it from molestation in its worship and
acts of beneticence, and to advance Its in
terests by the removal OF obstacles to its
success. Mr.. Morgan illustrated by point
ing to existing Institutions, such as bar
rooms, gambling dens, houses of ques-
tionable character, all Of which tend to
the corruption of public morals and the
promotion OF vicious habits.
In questions Of reform legislation, said
Mr.. Morgan, the state should heed the
demands of the church, as constituting
the most law-abiding and respectable ele-
ment in the commonwealth A man may
not indorse the church, either in its pol
ity or doctrine, still he must acknowledge
that all Of virtue and Goodness that he
possesses is due TO this course, and to
it alone. Mr.. Morgan dwelt upon the
necessity OF cooperation and sympathy
upon the part of church and state by
abiding to historical instances.
The church owes the duty to the state
to respect the powers that be. 1t is the
duty of the church not only to God, bur
likewise to the commonwealth, to en-
tighten the minds and educate the con-
sciences of the masses of the people, and
10 cry out against existing evils In nigh
places, as we'll as TO expose the filth and
obscenity of the cutters 1t is the duty
Of the church to instill patriotism into
the minds of the young and to hold up
the love of the fatherland as a tribute
owed to God. In the days of the prophets
the fathers told the children gathered
around the f1resides that national calami-
ties were due to national sins. In this day
and time they are assigned to that vision
q r4T nh a M n Epo = ttha6 1IHlx
Mr.. Morgan concluded with an exhorta>
tion to the ministry, as we'll as the Chris
tion laity, in all things to be true to the
church, to their country and to God, ana
to demand the enforcement OF just AMI
righteous legislation.