Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-25
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
49, u,vruoRxE'S GREAT SERMON
On THIS IMPORTANT THEME.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
s,rona Pica for the Absolute Divorce
Of Al Religious Institutions from
,t,c Civu Co,crnment--The \. l.. \.
severely Arraigucd.

e.------
Rev. Dr J.. B. Hawthorne. for many
y,.rs pastor o. ihc First Baptist church
r.re lst row located IN Nashville. Tenn.
closed DIS four-wceks' supply Of the pull
,t of hls old church on Sunday with a
,.vcrrll sermon on Religious Liberty"
rr.s D.. subject 20 which the eminent
,,l..,ra divine has given a grcat deal of
.-I, and the discourse OF sunday en-
l..rel Che results Of his investigation and
t.. sllsuuce 90 his writings on different
branches of this grcat theme.
The weather was intensely hot and The
service was rather longer than usual
n.t the immense congregation that crowd
.l both the auditorium and galleries did
r0t tire ur Hawthorne was at his best
and spoke with fcryor and earnestness.
lie r.,ureI the world as now in state
~ religious liberation only and made "a
st-1re plea for the absolute severancs o.
ever. Ole that unitcs Church and state
sr. f.r Che accomplishment Of religious
ll.rs u Hs ful and complete sense.
TITO f.yf was taken from Matthew. xii.
l-.. -r.u Us. therefore. what thinkest
t9ug isl 30 lawful % give tribute 20
Caesar COR uotf
.geaIer unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars and unto Col the things that
are Gu4's.'
WHAT CHRiSTs PURPOSE WAS.
DR. Hawthorne prcfaced his sermon 10y
declaring that DO was not his wish 20 give
offence o. any one ana that his desire was
ir charity and love % discuss the inn
torant subject announced plainly and
i.Ifly De reviewed the circumstances
under which The question OF the text
was asked and answered and asserted
frat DC was never Christs purpose TO
have any conflict with civil government
ana That He taught His disciples by pre-
Ceyt ard example 10 submit 20 the
powers that be- and in all thingF TO uphold
rne authority of the state. Christ SAID
T's kingdom was not Of this world. 10
was o reign OF righteousness in the hearts
az Ibis followers. To was invisible and
spiritual and for this reason could not
compete with or rival any material and
visible Kingdom u was evident that
Jesus did not claim exemption from
taxation for Ills disciples. nor even for
u msef Though a religious teacher,
whose life was wholly consecrated %
Che public good lie put Himself on a level
with every other subject Of the Roman
Government He Obeyed the civil laws
I1- paid the government tax. aud taught
ills disciples 10 do the same. Nothing Is
i1o-. certain than that Christ would not
allow His fjll0wers 20 claim exemption
from civil duty on the ground that they
ial q divine master. and tina, in des-
sau.uatire His religion they were making
l-eat contributions % the welfare Of the
public u is equally true that He sought
So alliance with the civil government
Fle authority was spiritual. and He knew
tlat mo- temporal power could enforce
g. Pc came 20 teach men 20 love ana
oh.v God. and tie knew that any attempt
r1 che part of secular power TO compel
f-au 90 love and obey God would only
Intensity their wicked and rebellious
spirit
Au other religions had allied themselves
with the civil power and used 70 20 com
I'll men 10 accept their teachings ana
support their authority. lie came TO
proclaim the rights of conscience ana 10
establish a religion which men should be I
tree 20 accept or reject
Continuing the speaker said.
when Constantine by an imperial
t1Irt. abolished Pagauism and established
CHRISTIANITY as the religion Of Rome. he
vl- more an enemy TO the truth and
Eredom of Christ than the inhuman
@s-o who uumined his public gardens
with tho burning bodies of Christian be-
levers
"The Dark Ages-that period Of unpre-
r41enteI ignorance. superstition. despot-
l.m auI uersccution-began when Chris
family Joined Itself 20 the state and ac-
c.ntel State money for its support ana
State authority and power In extending IT'S
C.lege-is The darkness OF the Dark
ACES began TO rece1e when the spirit OF
religious liberty began 90 revive Science
philosophy literature and everything
which enters into higher civilization have
Kept pace with the progress OF religious
freedom.
WHAT THE PEOPLE BELIEVE.
'Ir regard 20 the relation OF the State
to religion tho people OF this country are
theoretically a unit" DIT. Hawthorne con-
tiruel but practically they are far from
being united They believe that it is the
DUTY % the State 90 protect every human
l.ug grler Its jurisdiction in the exercise
ari enjoyment % his religious faith. bc
le Jew. or Christian. or Mormon. or Mo-
iamweian. or Pagan. They believe that
tle state has mo right 70 compel any man
90 support religion. They believe that the
conscience OF che iufdel should be just as
free from state interference as that Of
f1e Christian. They believe that Robert
lHssrsOll should be just as unmOlested In
,1e rejection az the Gospel az / am IN the
acceptance and practice OF il. They be-
leve that 10 man should be compelled TO
support any religion. and that AN such
clmpulslon Is a violation Of the sacred
rights ~ conscience. They believe that
tae solitary function Of the State I'm re-
gard 90 religion IS 20 protect 20, 20 see
nat every man Is unmolestcd in tho ex-
''lsa Of his religious feelings and the
practice o. bis religious principles. They
believe mat state patronage OF religion IN
any form is Incompatible with the rights
- conscience.
This is what the American people be
icfe II they were only consistent with
i-tir principles. how free we should be-
rom The discOrds and bitter contentious
mat now disturb tho peace Of our couu-
wy ana provoke thousands Of our people
hot only 20 reject Christianity. but to
hate u and rev.le 70. The American people
are not consistent with their avOwed
principles. Though believing In the abso-
'Iie hoh-inieriereuce OF the State I'm al
llatteis pertaining 10 religious faith and
iIatuoe' ihere are millions Of them who
seek The help OF the State TO propagate
ana support their religious doctrines and
worship. Every year they are asking our
'eIeidl Congress our State legislatures.
anl our city councils 10 do things which
i1ey know 10 be violations OF the rights
a. conscience"
SOME THINGS THAT MAR
"ith this Introduction. Dr. Hawthorne
lfoeeeded 10 call the attention OF his
interested hearers 10 some things mat
ere manifestiy incompatible with the true
spirit OF liberty, and that mar the happi-
heas Of the American people and retard