The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-25
we should "bury his theological folly,

pTopdSdteu LneOlORlcdl 1Olly OF
sought to change or influence any
mans religious faith, and it is unfair
to the whole spirit of his life to hold
him out as trying to undermine faith
in the Christian religion. 1t does equal
violence to his own views to print
extracts from private notes, written In
| haste, in which he expressed skepti-
cal views and opinions not reVerential
toward Paul and other great disciples
of the Christian religion. No man
who reads all that Jefferson has writ
ten, in private notes and public papers,
will doubt. that he was a Christian
man. troubled by doubts as to the
| divinity of Christ, but otherwise large
| ly influenced in his life by the teach
ings of Jesus. No man can read lief
| fersons Bible" without being made a
better man. When he finishes he will
| feel to say with Jefferson "a more
beautiful or precious morsel of ethics
[ have never seen; it is a document
in proof that l am a real Christian,
| that is to say. a disciple of the doc
trine of Jesus
In the day in which they lived,
three of the foremost men in America
were Jefferson, Franklin and Paine.
They loved liberty. justice and truth.
Their skepticism can be chiefly traced
to their conflict with fox-hunting and
unworthy clergymen of the established
church in this country and in France.
Every church in America, freed from
paying tithes to an established church.
owes more to Jefferson than to any
man who has lived.
In his own day he was viciously and
wantonly assailed and misrepresented
bv the Federalist press. but loved
honored and respected by all men who
loved civil and religious liberty and
who believed in the doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privilege to
none"
In North Carolina only the Federal
.sts and that portion of the clergy
who could not forgive his successful
war against the established church In
Virginia, misunderstood or misrepre-
scented him. The great body of the
religious world respected the debt
which they owed to him for freedom
of religion. At his suggestion this
State refused to ratify the Federal
Constitution until amendments guar
anteeing popular rights were incor-
porated into that instrument. North
Carolina urged him to accept third
term. If he had been an enemy of
religion this could not have happened
in this Christian State.
In 1906, on a day ever memorable
in North Carolina-May twentieth
the following letter was addressed to
Mr. Jefferson the President of the
United States, from ..orth Carolina
Baptist ministers:
To the President of the United States.
Sir: Under Divine protection. the
ministers and messengers of the sew
eral Baptist churches of the North
Carolina Chowan Association, held at
salem, on Newbipgin Creek. in Pas
quotank county. in the district of
Edenton. and State of North Carolina.
having met by appointment to offer up
the sacrifices of a broken and contrite
heart to the great author of their
being, for the unbOunded display of
goodness, and tender mercieS, bestowed
upon the children of men; and while
rendering alteration, prayer and
thanksgiving, with deep humility, for
the great and unsDeakable gift which
brought life and Immortality to light
through the gospel. they feel a pro-
found sense of the bounty received by
the hands of the Supreme being to-
wards the several churches in our con-
nection by the overpowering of the
spirit upon then; not only in effect
ing a great increase of members, but
in the substantial interest of the
churches being supported and
strengthened by very great and very
uncommon measure of Christian love,
union and harmony among the
brethren. While we have great cause
for thankfulness for these bounties
and mercies. we have felt deepest
gratitude to be due for the civil and re-
ligious liberties we enjoy under the
government over which you, sir, at
present preside: for which liberties
our fathers have. in times past suf-
fered at the stake. have bled and died.
The sense of contrast between the
present moment and late period
when the general federation of free
conscience in the worship of the God
of our Fathers: we nave now great
reason to shout with loud acclama-
live under our own vine. and under
our own fig tree in peace; and while
we pray that the sons of liberty may
be long Al the helm of government,
to rule and govern the United States,
we feel the strongest emotions to be
thankful that under your patronage
and administration There is none
shall make us afraid.
Living under a government Of our
own choice, where the rights of men
feel an equal and impartial distribu-
tion how much ought we to rejoice at
the envied happiness and freedom or
our fellow citizens throughout these
United States unriValled and unequal
led by any nation on this terrestrial
globe, and in the midst of nationai
wealth, prosperity and peace, added TO
extent of empire under the wise policy
of your administration: we feel no
danger of your violating your trust, or
attempting to endanger the happiness
of the people who have chosen you
as their chief and head. And while
our prayers and praises are due to the
Sovereign Ruler of the universe, VINO
has made you an instrument in His
hands to give such blessings to such 2,
people, we pray that the God of Battles
may give you grace and glory and
that He may withhold no good thing
from Won And NAV we deVOutlV be