Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-13

direct inhibition upon the several states
to legislate upon the subject in such man
ner as they may deem proper, and which
is not inconsistent with the constitution OF
the state in which the law is adopted.
Judge Story. in his work on the con-
stitution section 1879, says: 1t was under
the solemn consciousness OF the dangers
from ecclesiastical ambition, the bigotry of
spiritual pride. and the Intolerance of sects,
thus exemplified in our domestic as well as
in foreign annals. that 1t was deemed ad-
visable to exclude from the national gov
eminent all power to act upon the subject.
The situation. too. of the different states
equally proclaimed the policy as well as
the necessity of such an exclusion. In
some of the states Episcopalians consti-
| tuted the predominant sect; in others, Pres
byterians; in others. Congregationalsts: in
others. Quakers; and in others again there
was close numerical rivalry among con-
tending sects. 1t was impossible that there
should not arise perpetual strife and per-
petual jealousy on the subject of ecclesiast-
ical ascendency. IL the national government
were left free to create religious estab-
lishment. The only security was in ex-
| tirpating the power. But this alone would
have been an imperfect security, If 1t had
| not been followed up by a declaration of
| the right of the free exercise of religion
and a prohibition. as We have seen, of all
| religious tests. Thus the whole power over
| the subject Of religion Is left exclusively to
| the state governments, to be acted upon
| according to their own sense Of justice and
the state constitutions; and the Catholic
and Protestant, the Calvinist and the
Armenian. the Jew and the infdel. may sit
down at the common table of the national
councils without any inquisition into their
| faith or mode OF worship
What State Constitution Says.
Having discussed the provisions Of the
federal constitution on the subject and the
wisdom thereof. we look now to the con-
stitution of our own state. which upon this
subject is as follows:
Section 5. article'2. of our bill of rights
provides: That all men have natural and
indefensible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates of their own con-
science: that no person can, on account OF
his religious opinions be rendered fneligi.
this state. not be disqualified from testify
| ing, or from serving as a juror; that nc
human authority can control or interfere
| with the rights of conscience; that no per-
son ought, by any law, to be moleSted In
his person or estate. on account of his re-
ligious persuasion or profession: but the
not be SO construed as to excuse acts oil
Righteousness. nor to Justify practices in.
consistent with the good order, peace oi
safety of this state, or with the rights oi
others.
Section 6. That no person can be com.
PEELED to erect support any place or sys
tenn Of worship. or to maintain or support
any priest. minister. preacher or teacher
of any sect, church, creed or denomination
of religion; but II a person shall voluntar
lily make a contract for any such object, h,
shall be held to the performance of tn,
same.
".Section I. That no money shall eve
be taken from the public treasury directl,
or Indirectly. in aid OF any church. sect Of
denomination of religion, or in aid of an.
priest, preacher, minister or teacher there
of, as such; and that no preference shall b
|, given to, nor any discrimination mad
against, any church, sect or creed of re
ligion, or any form of religious faith o
, worship
Federal Principle Followed.
"It will be noticed that the trainers o
. our state constitution were not unmindfu