The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15
RELIGION AND THE STATE.
A Strong Though Invisible Link
Said to Exist Between
Them.
Interesting and Profound Discourse
Read by the Rev. DR.. Voor.
sanger.

"Church and religion" said the Rev.
DR.. Voorsanger during last nights lecture
at the Temple Emanu-El. ''do not mean
the same thing. A church is a system of
beliefs and observances governed by vary
ing laws, but religion is invariable and
universal. Religion pure and simple is
the practical application OF the moral law
to human life and conduct. The constitu-
ton of these United States recognizes no
church, but it ddes recognize religion. 1t
regards the churches as mere agents and
instruments of religion, and let's them
stand or fall on their own merits.
"At the same time, continued the elo-
quent rabbi, there is a strong though in
visible link between religion and the civil
power. Religion is held in regard and
venera ton by the Government as being a
powerful agency fpr the elevation of man.
kind, for the formation of good citizens
and for the petterment of the Republic.
Hence, while the Government disregards
sects and creeds it certainly renders every
due honor to religion. In the appoint
ment of days of Thanksgiving or of fasting
the state attests the dependence of the
human. race upon its Creator. By appoint.
ing chaplains for legislative bodies and
for the army and navy the Government
evinces desire not to smother the reli-
gious instinct in the citizens heart, but
rather to foster and develop it. In legis-
lative asset mblies, at least in a good many
of them, this public and forma homage to
the Deity is regarded as of so much i'm
portance that in the absence of chaplain
some member of the body reads prayer
or a selection from the Scriptures.
Another way in which the state honors
religion Is by exempting the house of God
from taxation. This, unhappily, is not
the case in California; but it is right that
institutions which are non-productive in a
financial sense and which exist only for the
purpose of aiding the civil power in the
preservation of order and the betterment
of citizens should be excused from paying
tribute to the state.
''In the oaths which witnesses are
| obliged by law to take in certain judicial
| proceedings we find the State recognizing
religion and religions author. Tue man
taking an oath is required to say so help
me God. This brief formula indicates
| that the civil power recognizes the exist
ence of God, the fact of mans response
bility to God and the efficacy of the moral
law as an aid to the Government.
1.-The state takes the citizen, so to speak
| into the presence of his Maker in order that
his religious instinct, thus appealed to, may
! impel him to speak the truth. Again, re.
| ligion aids the state in the very prisons,
| where chaplalns are appointed and main
tanned in order that they may do their best
to bring out what good there may be in the
souls of those undergoing punishment for
crime.
1.-The law revealed on Mount Sinai"
said the reverend speaker in conclusion,
was not given to the Hebrews only. 1t
was the voice of God speaking to the
world This is the religion which under
lies the constitution of these United States,
This is the religion which must ever assist
the secular power in the grand work OF
bettering and ennobling mankind