The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-30
A THANKSGIVING SERMON.
Rabbi breaches Reiasion asd
Patriotism. TO His CONGREGATION.

Rev. Jacob Klein, who recently
assumed pastoral charge OF the jew
ish congsegationin Sumter, deliver
ed the following sernDn to his peo-
pie on Thanksgiving Day:
Sc is in obedieuce TO tinte-honor-
-ed cnstoul that we. te-day, are gath
cred In this holy tempie to hear ear
nest words OF patriotism aud libel ".
To-day we unite du the observance
of Thanksgiving, and give hearty
thanks To the divine providence for
ssae blessings bestowed on our coun-
tgy.
Mindful OF the independence gain
,ed Dy iilustrious heroes and OF the
freedom of;our popular government,
of the enormous and rapid Increase
OF ,naeeriai wealth anG national
riches as welt as of the ilexhausti-
bic natural resources of this coun-
try, mindful of the steady progress
of education and Intelligence
throughout all classes and grades OF
population, our hearts are swelling
to manifest Our gratitude toward
Goo, ,whosin dis inffnite benignity,
made thtseouasry SO great, SO pros
porous, so blessed.
An endless stream OF worshippers
is to-day pouring into sacred halls
rtsTonghout this great, country. Mil
lions OF Americans gather to-day ia
churches and temples to express
their deep emntinns OF gratisude 10
Him who ruiestl the destinies of
nations,
ssThere is no law ordering the
American citizen to give public ex-
preston to his religious feelings.
Congress shall make no law res
.pscting an establishments OF refi-
,gion, is embodied in the constitu
sien OF America. Its logical part is,
that all our. po.ssicai ordinances are
entirely free from any interference
In religious matters. Creed and
confessions! belief are separate from
4che political life. Religion and poll
ties occupy independent spheres in
these United STATES. The civil law
has to do with the.reiation OF men tc
each other. and not with the rela-
tions of men totG0d.
According to the words OF the
immartal Psalmist, s9The heavens
are the Lords, but the earth hath
He given to the children Of men"
dal5-l69. It does nos.eyen undertake
the enforcement of. the divine law.
Scarcely was ever measure
adopted by any Legislature which
has been more practical and suitable
for creating and maintaining happy
social relations than this. It is a
great advantage to the country it.
self, yea, to the whole world, that
the State legislatures in America
have, as such, nothing to do with.
religion and are by tie constitution
expressly forbidden to interfere in
its affairs. Religion is left to the
free will of each individual, and has
none bnt moral means to influence
the people, the best means to main
Gaia trae religion, freedom OF faith
and conscience.
a FREE GoUNTRY.
America is proclaimed by the
world free country. because it sus-
tains moral freedom. The mission
of America is therefore moral mis-
sion, snission Of liberty inpreligion.
Yes. it lis In this land that the sun of
RIGHTEOUSNESS is To reach the zenith
of its earthly glory. IF not here,
where every religion is protected,
where every conscience is held sa-
cred. where no creed. no bishop. no
pope eau interpose earthly authority
between the soul and its Creator,
where spiritual tyranny has perish
ed, iate eranee has died. while the
sa,1saaan mind is free and God reigus
supreme sovereign, OF the soul, if not
here. where else2
This country has been a place for
Puritans, Presbyterians. ,Unltartans,
Qea&e ers. and Jews. who came here
seeking refuge FROM intolerance and
oppression, L, enjoy the freedom OF
religious convictions.
Thus this principle from the very
start was one of the cardinal germs,
<oruer stone of American civitiza
tioa. and tils separation of State and
religion, with it's genuine child, the
political equality of all creeds.
yst. get ia itsdsHereaeetO reIlg iOus
convictions originated this religious
liberty, bat in the finally weil-uts-
dersto.d aud we'll applied principle
<nf the freedom aud equality of moral.
as well as OF pultticat. rights.
Religion Is sise deepest aisd hottest
iasefpst af man and t!srives best in
the atmosphere of freedom.
Cosnpalsiou in ttais sphere only
produces. hypocrisy. oigotrv aud in-
fidetify. The Anse iean pof,aliati"n,
the deseenfanss Of the vari"as prim-
tive settlers. "a welt as the a.a.'re re-
cene immigrants. all are esnisaently
and ia great ,najorities. under the
influence os religious ideas asid feet
sngs. But they justly refuse t" be
gnver.,ef. in this sacred c"ne-s" at
the heart aud soul 6y the temporal
Inwrr.%
TIE absolute separation of religion
aud State il Indeed the most power
full ard ultimate condition "e things.
the moss precious boon with the
p.acsicai proof, that religion can live
a.ef thrive without the support of the
secular arm, without police force.
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES.
Since religious differences are not
su,. never will be settled, this sepa-
.;~,, sc mn iuavitah1a coueS0ueuce