The Dolores star., 1902-08-29

That to be hated needs but to be seen;
But seen too oft, familiar with its face
We first endure, then pity, then enl'
brace"
Readers are asked to pardon the di-
gression shall now make concerning
some views on questions of religion.
That they have nothing to do with the
teachers Office is apparent to all who
care to give the matter anything like
careful thought; but since have moth
ing to conceal concerning such matters,
and believing that the teachers life
should he an open book that may be
read by any and all, l submit some
points on few phases of this question.
| 1t strikes me that the highest duty a
man owes to himself and his commu-
nifty is to be true to himself. As the
great poet and dramatist puts it:
"To thine own self he true,
And II must follow as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any
man.
As the gentle and philosophical En-
erson has phrased it, "The most sacred
thing is the integrity of your own
mind"
Every person il under the domain of
moral law which is forever seeking and
does find expression in mans life.
There is n perpetual struggle, more or
less clearly defined, going on in every
human soul there is an upward striv-
ing in every human heart. A violation
of this fundamental moral law of ones
being must of necessity sooner or later
have its penalty in some form. From
this there IL no escape any more than
from a violation of the law of gravity.
The constitution of the United States
provides that congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment of re-
ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" This is religious freedom and
makes all unqualified and absolute di-
vorce between church and state.
The history of the struggles and con-
tentions that led up to this sublime
declaration is one of horror and blood
shed. 1t is one of the darkest pages in
the annals of the world. Having
studied and understood this struggle it
Is well for us all to he devoutly thank
ful every hour of our lives that this
vital principle has been incorporated in
the organic law of our republic.
But while this is SO ii were no easy
matter to drive from the human mind
the blighting spirit of intolerance that
it for so many centuries.
This spirit of Intolerance sent Serve
tus, and Latimer, and Ridley, and
countless others to the stake, and nailed
the Savior of mankind. to the cruel
cross.
This same dark and fnalevolent feel
ing, but for an enlightened public sem
timent that grew apace, would have
consigned the loving Franklin, the
patriotic Jefferson and the martyred
Lincoln to ignonliny and disgrace.
Gallileo was at one time arraigned for
heresy by this same spirit of intoier.
ance because he dared proclaim the SCI
entific fact that the earth rotates on Its
axis; and when this grayhaired old
veteran of truth was left to himself
after he hid recanted and denied this
statement, wrung from him by threats
of physical punishment of the most
diaholical character, he exclaimed: at
moves for oil that"
So may we in like manner say Of oui
tfmes
"Truth crushed to earth shall rise
again! ~
The eternal years Of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhes in pain
And dies amid her worshippers.o
The spirit Of Christianity is abroad IN
the lard and the movement is ever on
ward to a practical realization of thu
fatherhood of God and the brotherhoot
of mall.
CONTINUED NEXT wBEK.)