The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-04-14


Cincinnati, o., April 10, 1904.-At
the Vine Street Congregational church
this morning, the pastor, Herbert s.
Bigelow, concentrated the birthday
of Thomas Jefferson in a sermon On
"Jefferson's Religion" He said in
part:
Biographers differ as to the date Of
Jefferson's birth. Some say the End
of April, 1743; others say the 18th.
The weight of authority Is with the
End. The 18th, however, would have
been appropriate, since his whole lie
was challenge to the superstitions Of
men. Whatever the date of his birth,
it was kindly fate which selec.cd
for his death the Fourth of July, the
day which will be Jeffersons while
the republic stands. At memorial SER
vices the land over much will be said
about Jefferson's service in the cause
Of political liberty. Something should
be said about his achievements in be-
half Of religious freedom.
A SECOND DECLARATION.
In Jefferson's time, the laws of vir-
GINA imposed severe penalties upon
those who denied the being Of God, or
| the doctrine of the Trinity, or the d.
vine authority of the Scriptures. JET
| ferson inspired the act of 1873 by
| which the general assembly of VIZ
ginia declared that all men shall lie
| free to profess, and by argument to
| religion and that the same shall in no
wise diminish, enlarge, or affect Their
civil capacities"
Jefferson seems to have had little
patience with professional preachers.
He praised the Quakers for having dis
pensed with them.
JEFFERSON'S OATH.
He was foremost in his opposition
to the effort to engraft upon the new
nation that scion of tyTanny-a state
church. "The clergy" said he, by
getting themselves established by
law, and engrafted into the machine
of government, have been very for
midable engine against the civil and
religious rights of man." He knew
| that the partisans of religious cs-
tablishment regarded him as their
bitterest foe. And they believe right
| ly,'' said he, "for | have sworn upon
the altar of God, eternal hostility
against every form of tyranny over
the mind Of man."
What Jefferson thought OF the doc
trine of eternal punishment is inl-
mated in a letter in which he COM
mented on the fearful conditions in
France previous to the revolution. ut
| it a true picture of that country 10
which they say we shall pass hereaf-
ter, and where we are to see God AID
his angels in splendor, and crowds CT
the damned trampled under Their
feet"
This sarcasm suggests a query.
How far have men been made content
with the frightful inequalities of iu-
man life by the influence of that
atrocious conception of paradise built
upon the writhing bodies of tie
damned? The tendency of this doe
trine must have been to reconcile MEN
to the co-existence Of happiness ard
misery. There are some who cannot
enjoy an earthly prosperity from
which their fellows are barred. For
them. an exclusive heaven would be
intolerable.
WAS HE A CHRISTIAN?
Jefferson declared that Christianity
was "the most sublime and benevolent,
but most perverted system that ever
shone on man. To the corrupti0ns
of Christianity. | am indeed opposed.
but not to the genuine precepts ot
Jesus himself. am Christian In She
only SENSE he wished anyone TO be;
sincerely attached to his doctrines. IN
preference 10 all others, aseriblne 10
him every human excellence and be-
lIeyIng he never claimed any other.
REASON AND ORACLE.
Jefferson believed that mans m,ad
was given him 10 use. Your own Iea-
sol" said he. Ii the only oracle giytu
you by heaven. aud you are answel.
able. not for the Flghlnesa but up.
fightnese OF the decision"
10 Thomas Paine he wrote enecus
agement Go on then In doinE WITH
your pen what Ia other times wal