The Newtown bee., 1904-02-05

N. r., on every DoIg!e. the services of religion.
 Weare taught in the holy Scriptures, that civil government is ordained of God, and that He is the Supreme Ruler over the nations of the earth. There is no power but of God.
 We in this republic speak of all power as derived from the people, and exercised for the people. But when we use this language, if we know what we are saying, we do not mean that the people are in the place of God, but in the place of kings and lords; that under God, they are the true sovereigns; that what is called the divine right of kings, is, in truth, the divine right of | the people; that they by the grace of God, are the rulers of the nation; and that they, who hold office are their l servants. . I purpose to consider at this, time, the relations of the Christian religion to our national being, and the duties of Christian men growing out of these relations.
 The question has been asked, "are we Christian nation?" That Chris tianity is established in our land, there can be no question. Myriads of church spires testify to the fact. But is there any evidence in our organic law, and constitutional basis, that we claim to be Christian nation, or even re- ligious people in any form? The funda- mental law of our national being does not recognize the existence of God; nor does it make any allusion to the Chris tian religion.
 Not a word can be found in the Constitution of the United States to distinguish us from a nation of heather or infdels. Advantage has been taken of this omission, by the enemies Of Christianity in our land, to object to prayers in Congress-; proclamations of thanksgivings and lasts; the reading of the Bible, and the teaching of Chris tian morality in our public schools. They affirm that their rights are violated, since the fundamental law of the Union does not recognize the exist- ence of God, nor any form of religion. It is felt to be matter of so great i'm portance, that the ground of these objections should be taken away, that society has been formed by men of the highest standing in all the pro- fessions and callings of life, whose ob- ject is tosecure an amendment of the Constitution, incorporating recog- milton of God as the Supreme Ruler of the nations of the earth, and the Almighty Disposer of all events. Whether this movement will be successful remains to be seen. It will doubtless meet with bitter and perse- vering opposition from the enemies of religion. And there may be men among those, who do not deny the being of God, nor repudiate Christiani- ty, who will doubt it's expediency; especially as it can be proved, notwith- standing the omission in the Consti- tuition, that from the beginning of our national existence, there has been practical acknowledgment of the ex- istence and government of God, and of the obligations of Christianity. The declaration of independence aff1rms, that "all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights" And the noble and patriotic men, who in signing this instrument, pledged to each other "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of their in- tentions." In the provincial Con- gress, and in the Convention for fram- ing the Constitution, the meetings were uniformly opened with prayer. And always in Congress, and in the State Legislature, and in army and navy, chaplains have been appointed, who have ministered the religion of Christ in it's various offices.
 Notwithstanding the omission in the Constitution, therefore, there is abundant evidence that, practically, Uuc Supl CuO DCluk, oAO olC Slli IoUldu religion, were recognized by the framers of our government; and that there has been in all the departments of the pub- lie service ever since, an acknowledge ment of our dependence upon the Supreme Being, and of our obligations to Christ.
 It is in vain, therefore, that infidels assert that ours is not a Christian republic; and that all the acts of legis- lative bodies, and of public officers, which imply the overruling providence of God, and the obligations of Chris tianity, are unlawful. And now, let us consider the proposition, that the aid of Christianity is essential to the continuance and perpetuity of our civil liberty, and our free institutions. They have had as yet, but brief exist ence-nearly a century. Our nation is still in it's infancy. Our free govern ment is still an experiment.. Eminent statesmen are doubtful as to the re- suit. They they can detect causes at work, which may, eventually, prove