The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-25

4 ferSOn put an enQ TO perlIlIllillS tnen
to levy tithes upon men who belonged
to what were then called dissenting
churches"
The answer of Mr.. Jefferson shows
his gratitude to God and is filter
Exposition of his religious views than
Ia few hastily penned excerpts taken
from their proper connection. Here Is
his letter:
Washington, June "a 1906.
Sir: | have duly received your adj
dress, signed by yourself on behalf of
the ministers and messengers of the
several Baptist churches of the North
Carolina ChoWan Association, held at
Salem church, and proffer my thanks
| for the favorable sentiments which it
expresses towards myself personally.
The happiness which our country en-
| joys in the pursuits of peace and in
dustry ought to endear that course to
| all it's citizens, and to kindle their
hearts with gratitude to the Being I'M
der whose providence these blessings
are held. We owe to Him especial
thanks for the right we enjoy to Wor-
ship Him, every one in his own way,
and that we have been singled out to
prove, by experience, the innocence of
freedom in religious opinion and eX-
erciseS, the power of reason to MAIN
tain itself against error and the COM
fort of living under laws, which as
sure us that, in these things. There
is none who shall make us afraid"
/ am peculiarly gratified by the con-
fidence you express that no attempt
will ever be made by me to violate the
trust reposed in me by my fellow-citl-
zens; or to endanger their happiness.
In this confidence you shall never be
disappointed. My heart never felt a
wish unfriendly to the general good
of nv w-citizens.
Be SO kind as to present my thanks
to the churches of your association,
and to assure them of my prayers for
the continuance of every blessing to
them now and hereafter; and accept
yourself my salutationS and assurances
of great respect and consideration.
TIL. JEFFERSON,
MR.. GEORGE OUTLAW.
Mr.. Jefferson is the greatest man
America has produced. judged by the
highest test: Does a mans teachings
control men after he has
passed away? Jeffersons inf1u-
ence-inspiring powerful, salutary
in his day-did not die when his
mortal body was laid to rest on the
summit of Monticello, hard by the
home where his pen had written the
appeals. the resolutions, the statutes
that gave America religious and civil
liberty and it's untrammeled press.
Jeffersons services for liberty are
immortal Wherever men look out of
darkened windows of despotic govern
ments they are cheered by the light of
trates and illumines the deepest cell
of civic tyranny. Wherever, in any
decade of the worlds history-yeste:-
day, to-day, to-morrow--the pen is
subjected to censorship. the words and
deeds of jefferson are the bow of
promise set in the heavens.
AS the years shall pass,
"And the thoughts of men are wild
end with the process of the suns
and, one by one the nations that sit
in darkness come into the glorious
light of eeiom--freedom of con-
science, freedom of speech. freedom
jestic figure Of Jefferson will loom up
as the inspiring spirit who first breath
ed into the printing press-(therefore
the unresponsive instrument to fur
Their the DEGREES of kings and bind
the conscience and thoughts of mem
the breath of life, and made it re-
sponSive, sentient. virile. free.