The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-21
DR.. PITT TO BAPTISTS.
He Delivers Instructive Address on
Religious liberty"-lt Was The
Feature OF Tuesday Nights Pro-
gram OF Centennial Celebration.

The speaker for Tuesday nights pro-
gram of the centennial celebration nj the
Baptist church was DR.. r. II. Pitt, the
well-known editor of the Religious Her.
aid OF Richmond. Rev K Aubrey VIII
Iiams, the pastor presided, and presented
Dr. Pitt 70 the audience During the
evening a solo was we'll rendered 10y Miss
Maud BOWering.
DIR. Fits ADDRESS.
DR.. Pitts theme was Religious Lber.
ty and the Baptists, and be besa an by
quoting a remark made by John Bright.
the great statesman, TO DR.. j. l.. NJ.
Curry, who sat next him at dinner
What distinct contribution, said the
great Englishmsn TO the American. has
America made TO the science of govern.
ment2 Dr. Curry promptly and de-
ci-ively Re responded The doctrine q re-
ligious liberty ia Americas contribution
To the science Of government Mr
Bright a. promptly said, That vas in
deed a noble contribution.
That the Baptists shoUl1 have b. en- in
huentially Identified with the struggle
for the recognition of this fundamental
human right was, the speaker raid, a
source OF honest pride and cODgratUls-
ton to all deYout Rsptists.
DR.. Pitt then undertook to deiioe re-
ligious liberty, discriminating il snsrply
from mere federation, which he said was
in its essence and degree only another
form OF persecution and from licrnse to
do az one may please 10 matters Of relig-
ion without regard TO the peace and
good order 9th community. tie point
ed out that 1t was more than the right
merely TO believe; il included the right TO
express that belief in forms OF worship
and Christian service It was more than
the mere absence Of formal aud technical
union between some sect OF Christianity
and the State Such formal union might
disappear and yet we should find the
principle frequently violated IN other
ways. Soul liberty was the right OF the
individual TO have unhindered access to
God to worship Him according TO the
dictates OF his own conscience, or, so far
a. the State is concerned, not to worship
Him at all. That is, the State has moth
ing whatever to do with the religion Of
its citizens so long as 1t does not tread
upon the rights and privileges OF Others
or menace good order.
DIR. Pitt then pointed out that where
ever the struggle for this RICH; had pro-
ceeded Baptists were found 10 the fore
front. 10 continental Europe 10 Eng.
land, In New England. in Virginia. even
in the very street OF Frederickst arg they
had borne their witness Now this did
not merely happen so. The simple fact
il that loyal aud intelligent Baptist is
bound, out OF sheer consistency, 10 be an
ardent aud constant supporter Of this
glorious doctrine. For voIunt,srness in
religion is q foundation stone Ci Bsp.
fist doctrine.
The speaker then proceeded to speak
OF what the Baptists had done 10 con
tinental Europe, in England, in New
England and in Virginia. Lastly, he
spoke OF some of the practical epplica-
tions OF the doctrine, such "a govern
ment chsplsincies, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ations to religions, the putting the Bible
by law into the public schools, etc, de-
claring that oil assumptions by the State
of religious functions ought to be stead
ilv resisted,