The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-26

ever ready TO protect its code of belief If
the state. by statute. fmperilS its exist
encss put generally they render loyalty 20
political maxim or policy that favors
recognition of their demands to the detri-
ment of those advanced by ether sects-
Confine the influence acquired by an
election TO a senatorship TO the lines of a
particular creed. and the rest of Chris
tendon PUSHES for its war paint and
Wleids Its Ratchet. but let the government
OF the United States. or of any particu-
lar state. inaugurste a holiday, exempt
all churches from taxation. bring to life
SUNDAY law, or give encouragement 10
any idea that upholds the claims cf
Christianity a whole, and the question
Of the undermining of the state by the
/ enurch becomes material unworthy Of
their consideration. II would seem from
this that the politician must uphold the
demands Of Christendom. generally. If he
would undertake TO reconcile religious
Lactions. and cause the Christian to blind
ioiq MS minds eve to the fact that church
and state are exchanging love lotions.
IN the bill of rights OF Arizona we read:
Inc civil and political rights OF no per-
son shall be abridged or enlarged on ac-
count of his opinions or belief concerning
matters of religion.
Yet laws that restrain. with reference
70 Sunday, to tso-called) biasphemy,
oaths. ETC., are passed.
The constitution Of Tennessee provides
mat no preference shall ever be given
I Dy law to any religious establishment or
thority can, in any case whatever. con-
trol or interfere with the rights of con-
SCIENCE
And yet in article tx. sec. ,. it is also
provided that mo person who denies the
being OF God. or a future state Of reward
and punishment shall hold any office in
the civil department of this state"
And in the same article. sec l. 1t pro-
Vides that no minister of the gospel or
priest. shall be eligible to a seat in either
house of the legislature
What consistency is heret Tennessee
pats all Christianity or the back by an
Initiating strife between sects bv de-
l hlV Iii i'll
from a seat in the legislature and yet. at
the same time pretends to worship at the
shrine of religious liberty by saying. mo
human authority can. in any case what
ever, control or interfere with the right
| of conscience
In some states the testimony of ag-
noSticS. in the courts. is liable to diScred-
it, in others it is forbidden. The violation
of the principle separation of church and
state. IS shown in the appropriation OF
/ national and state moneys for religious
purposes, in the exemption of church
property from taxation in the payment
| of chaplains in the army. navy. prisons,
legislative bodies, etc; in the teaching or
| religion in the public schools in the en-
actment of Sunday laws. in the prOclama-
| ton of fast or thanksgiving days. Do
not such matters as these rivet more
state?
The American Baptist Home Mission
| society, in MAY. 1891. gave utteranee to
these words: ''1ist tory is proof that the
| meddIing of ecclesiastics with civil gov
| eminent mas EN- DlttereQ pOutlcal discus
| sions. has added religious fanaticism to
/ partisan rancor has divided society. has
| engendered civil and International wars.
| has made princes the tools of prelates
and has endangered the very existence
| of the state. 49,. The hand of the
| church on the state has induced hypoc-
| risy. formality, a church palsied and cor
4 ruDt"
Many of the clergy are honest enough
| to oppose the marriage of the church
/ with the state. while others believe as
/ the Rev J. w Foster does. that the
/ state and its sphere exist for the sake OF
| and to serve the interests of the church.
| Mr.. Smoot may believe as the Rev. Fos-
| ter does, but can we uphold the gospel
| OF right of conscience" by demanding
and bringing about his rejection from the
| United States senator This is a fair
| question. If Mr.. Shoots first allegiance
/ is to the church is he not a menace. as
| senator, to the rights of the republic?
1 could be asked.
| Religion is matter which belongs to
| the churches and not to the state" said
| Washington. He wished the good of his
/ country and hoped to limit church power.
! What shall be said of those who oppose
! Smoot on the grounds that the state
| rights are being invaded by a church. and
| yet at the same time connive at the en-
| actment of laws that have a tendency 10
/ crown state and church as king and
| queen? JOSEPH ROGERS.
| Salt Lake City.