The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-03
to make unfavorable comments upon
this we'll guarded statement in the
record of the campaigns of Joshua.
THE RELIGIOUS FUNCTION OF THE
STATE.

HlA Id.
The State as a civil institution is
the natural outgrowth of the ration
al, moral and social nature with which
God has endowed man. 1t was not
made; it grew. 1t is not creation,
| but an evolution. 1t is divine in
stitution in the same sense that the
family and society are divine institu-
tons. It's social and moral elements
are of divine origin. They were given
to man by the divine Creator when
he made him in his own image and
after his own likeness. From the &C.
ton of these elements in real life the
State was evolved. 1t exists today as
| the result Of the advanced and adj
vancing civilization of the race. Man
could not become fully developed in
all the instincts aud institutions of
his rational and moral being without
this result. The State is not. there
| fore, the result of a voluntary social
contract, but of necessary moral
and social growth. Men are born
into it as they are born into the ply
steal universe, society, the family and
the home. Then they grow into it,
as they come 10 understand their re-
lations, to feel their obligations, and
take part in the life and duties which
grow out of these relations. The
State is, therefore, vital, an organic
social organism.
The State has life, unity, growth,
and continuity of being. History
appears to teach that States, and Ma
tions, as the larger forms of States,
like other organisms are born, have
their childhood, youth, maturity,
then decline and die. This has GER
tainly been the history and the fate
of all the States and Nation of anti
guilty. And it is claimed by some
writer's that it is as really the law of
political as it is of plant and animal
organism. In other words, they
claim that it is a universal biologi-
cal law, and attaches to all living
things. 1t appears TO be as true of
nations as of men and families.
The question which we wish to
discuss in this article is, Has the
State religious functions There is
no question about the fact that the
State has functions. 1t could not be
an organism without this. Il is a
physiological law that all organisms
have organs, all organs have their
functions, and functions have their
objects. We find this wherever we
find living forms. 1t is the law of all
life. The State as living thing
comes under this law. 1t evidently
has social, political, and legal func-
tions. But has the State religious
function?
History shows that one of the most
active and powerful forces in build
ing the State has been religion. This
is known to be the fact in Egypt,
India, China, Judea, Turkey, Greece,
Rome, England, Ireland and Amer
lea. Now is it probable or even pos
sible for the most powerful force con-
cerned in building and organizing to
have no part in its functional activ-
ity? Evidently not. This would be
in violation of all organic law. Or
ganisms are builded to serve and re-
veal the forces that build them. This
is the reason for their creation and
the purpose or end Of their existence.
Nations or States are constituted
or organized of men. Men are relig-
ious beings, have religious natures,
are pressed with religious wants, con-
trolled by religious principles, and
act under the influence of religious
motives. Now, would it be possible
for nations or states, constituted by
and of such men to have no religious
functions7 This could not be unless
the effect should be totally unlike its
producing cause. This is contrary to
reason, philosophy and experience.
History, as it reveals to us the ma
tional life, institutions and laws of the
ancient States, shows that they all per-
formed religious functions, enacted
religious laws, established religious
institutions, and protected religious
worship. This clearly shows that the
State has always claimed and exer-
cised important functions in regard to
religion. All modern nations are do
ing the same thing. Most of them
have established special forms of
religion by law, and levy special
tax for their support. Nature and his
tory reveal the fact that it is impossi-
BILE to divorce politics wholly from
religion.
Nearly all nations stand for some
form, IF or some permanant alanant