The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-28

No Uldll HIS DttI uLblc uHJuolis J'NSNN
in religious things than Thomas JefC-
son. We have inherited from the bigu~
try of last century almost a loathing
for him who as truly initiated Christ and
us clearly obeyed the laws of the New
Testament as any of his contemporaries,
ministers of the gospel not excepted.
jefferson had the misfortune of being fsr
in advance of his generation, of believing
in what men did not then accept-not
tolerance but religious hDerty. lie hated
bigotry and knew the Great Master did
not teach il. The one cause of the SIAN
derotls abuse Of Jefferson IN religious
things WAS the Virginia clergy's OPP
position to the religious free
dom that he successfully advo-
Gated: another cause was the poll
tical hatred of New England for any
man who taught a broad and liberal
creed--the very creed New England now
accepts. New England was in, 1900 or
ganiZed on the basis Of Puritan hierarchy;
New England hated Jefferson's politics.
What was more natural than 10 use this
church organization for political purposes
The pulpits of that portion of the coun-
try became engines of political creed and
from them everything Jeffersonian was
denounced in Il way that would be Liable
10 prosecution in the law courts OF today.
Men hate others because of difference in
faith and being fully convinced OF the
Righteousness and humanity OF absolute
freedom of conscience Jefferson destroy
cd the church establishment in Virginia.
and secured to the struggling and pro-
scr1bed denominations of other faiths than
the Episcopal perfect liberty. For this
he incurred the everlasting ellmity OF
the clergy which enmity lives on and
leaps unjust abuse on his detenseless
head until our day. jefferson loved his
fellow man as few have done: Christ him.
self would have approved, / believe. every
step he took in regard TO the church. be-
cause it meant the uplifting OF The poor
and the encouragement of the weak ana
down-trodden.
jefferson was the text Of half the ser
mons preached in New England for eH
years. We have similar state OF thing
in recent elections These are the sour:"s
then of our present-day abuse of Jeffer>
son as an atheist. and it is time for us
10 look into things OF this kind aud see
that right lis ON our side before going
100 far. How can men continue to be-
lieve Jefferson could be so inconsistent.
How could man believe and teach
what jefferson did and yet be an atheist
it is not true and no one acquainted Win
.Jeffersorfs writings can believe in all this
abuse Of his great name.
1t was Jefferson's misfortune, | say. to
he in advance of his time and coaise-
quently he incurred all the ill-will OF faei
who could not be brought to gee things
as time has shown them. Even the
much-abused Noltaire was benefactor
Of mankind. He ii was who loosed the
shaekles from the limbs Of thousands
who in France lay in dungeons because
OF Roman Catholic fanatcism. 1t was not
atheism for which Voltaire was so thor
oughly hated but for liberal humanitarian
views, for yentlIring to attack the over
grown dogmatism of the Roman church.
Exactly the same is true with regard to
Jefferson only Jefferson's was devout
religious nature a nature that was re-
markably pure and simple in Its faith.
while Voltaire's was one that delighted
in mockery, in cynical exposures OF the
Weaknesses Of human institutions. To
show how unjustly men charge Jefferson
with atheism or with being n monster.
quote verbatim some of his
letters covering long period OF his life:
June 25th. 1904 speaking or the fu-
ture life: I'VE have. however. the tray
eller's consolation. Every step Shorten
the distance we have to go; the end or our
tourney is in sight, the bed wherein we
are TO rest, and to rise in the midst OF the
friends we have lost. We sorrow not
then as those who have no hope; but look
forward to the day which joins rs to the
great majority. But whatever Is to he
our destiny. wisdom, give and take away.
and be contented in the enjoyment OF
those who are still permitted to be With
u.s."
Ian. 81. 1914, when jefferson was fai'
from Il rich man, Mr.. Samuel Greenhow
asked aid for distributing the Bible in
destitute regions. Jefferson inclosed
draft for fifty dollars. sincerely agreeing
with HMM c. that there never
was a more pure and sublime system OF
morality delivered to man than is TO be
found i'm the four Evangelists. (No
1olitics in this gift note the date,
September % 1914, to a man who had
written to jefferson concerning the Quen-
ton of salvation and future state or
happiness: Our particular principles or
religion are subject Of accountability
to our God above. | inquire after no
mans and trouble none with mine; nor
is it given to us in this life to know
whether yours or mine. our friends or
our foes. are exactly the right Nay, we
have heard il said that there i not a
Quaker or Baptist, a Presbyterian or
an Episcopalian, Catholic or Protest
ant in heaven that. on entering that
gate, we leave those badges of schism
behind and find ourselves united in those
prnciples only in which God has united
us all. Let us not be uneasy. then,
about the different roads we may pursue
as believing them the shortest, to that
our last abode; but. following the guild
ance Of q good conscience. let us be happy
in the hope that by these different paths
we shall all meet in the end. And that
YOU and | may there meet and embrace.
is my earnest prayer And With this as
surance l salute YOU with brotherly es-
TEEN and respect
During the year 1909. when Jefferson
was overwhelmed with the business Of
the nation as its President. he WAS care
fully studying the New Testament; he
wrote TO Charles Thompson, January g.,
1916, concerning that study: Il, too.