The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-31

throughout the length ana breadth OF
the land, Catholics are found vieing with
their fellow citizens of other churches
in all works that make for the ameliora-
ton of suffering humanity, the educa-
ton of the masses, the social well-being
the spiritual welfare and the temporal
ndvancementof the people and the honor
and glory of the Republic.
There is no privilege or right which
1 appreciate and honor more than be-
Ing citizen of Georgia and the United
States. Uuder the constitution and
laws OF each, am protected in my right
TO religious freedom-4to worship God
according ito conscience. II Is distinctly
declared that there shall be no law in
respect to the establishment OF religious
or the free exercise thereof. 1t Is also
declard in tn suprme law OF the United
States that there shall be no religious
test as qualification for Office or trust
within the gift of the Government.
There lis no escape from this manda-
tory provision of the organic law. There
Is no ambiguity about 1t. No one de-
niles It's meaning Men OF all parties and
all creeds know the law. 4 wayfarinE
man, though fool, cannot err therein.
Our Republican Government was con-
secrated to civil and religious freedom.
1t was baptized i'm the blood OF men who
were cast In heroic moulds-men who
pledged their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor that liberty of cons
oienoe and the right of self-governmcnt
should be firmly established on this con-
unent.
Protestants, Catholics and Hebrews
Fought, suffered and made sacrifices for
the independence of the Government OF
the United States. All citizens nre
entitled to the exercise and endowment
of the same rights and privileges, No
! Glr|eh should be prescribed The privi-
| ieses enumerated and the rights com
| manded are sacred and should IN, hold
| inviolable by all honorable and notrio,ic
Americans as long as. the Republic lives
10 Dless the humblest and most exalted
citiLen. Equal rights and equal oppor-
| unlties for the enjoyment of those
rights are the basic principles of our
government. Life, liberty and the pur-
suit OF happiness were the principles
proclaimed TO the world 10y the signers
or the Declaration of Independence.
Ihey were the principles established by
the sacrifices of the heroes and ma
triots of the Revolution. They are the
principles of the Government now. and
Will continue as long as the Republic
Civil and religious liberty-frecdom of
conscience and of party-are the in
alienable and indestructible rights of
every man VINO has the honor OF Amer
lean citizenship.
SO long as the Constitution stands
and the laws made in pursuance there
of-so long as this Government lasts
so long Will the citizens of the United
states OF all churches and forms of
religious belief be entitled to the bles-
sings Of civil and religious liberty. To
worship according to conscience is the
| exalted right of citiZenship-the royalist
prerogative OF American manhood-the
knightliest. the kinsliest exercise OF
the sovereign power of American citi
zenship.
Let neither the churches nor the
ministers thereof strive AGAINST each
other in those things which bring ahout
contention. discord and stranserent
but rather let all contend in cenerous
rivalry for the graces of faith. hone
and charity, particularly for that char
ity which embraces and loves univer-
sal mankind, irrespective OF church. ma
ton or race. Differ as we may as TO
church membership. we should love
one another as friends and brothers
who possess the best-the most glorious
civil and religious heritage on earth
What ST. Augustine says we should
inculcate-wu should ,practicc i'm our
daily lives as citizens of this great Re
public-the grandest that the world ha 6
ever seen since God first said let there
be light: "In essentials, unity: in nom
essentials, liberty; in all things. char
ity.''
II is in this spirit of peace and
brotherly love that my heart goes oui
to you and TO every citizen OF this land
irrespective of party, creed or race. I
pray Cod 10 bless all the churches and
all the people. l ask Him 10 forgive