Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-28
CHURCH INFLUENCE.

80 one need to fear undue iuhueuc,
by the Mormon" Church upon the at
fairs of the state Never have the An.
thorltes uf that Church made any at.
tempt TO encroach upon the domain Of
the state or to unite the functions OF
one with the other. This positive
declaration was made years ago In d
manifesto signed by Presidents Will
ford Woodruff. George q. Cannon, and
Joseph +. Smith. and II is true today
ne II has ever been.
II is a fact that during the early
history Of Utah. the President Of the
Church held for eight years the posi-
ton OF governor. The first secretary
Of the Territory was am official In the
Church. An Apostle represented the
Territory IN Congress. But even then
there was no attempt made To mix the
affairs OF the State with those Of the
Church. The two were always sep
arate. Never was there any desire to
curtal individual liberty. And what
was not done IN the early DAYS, in this
regard, will not be attempted now
While there is no dispute as to the
correctness Of the principle of separa-
ton between church and state! In the
serse that each must have It's own
sphere OF activity aud It's own func-
lions, yet, il must be remembered
that the two will always exercise some
influence one upon the other. This IL
unavoidable, az long as both exist In
the same world and occupy, 10 some
extent, common ethical ground 1t
II impossible 60 erect wall between
the two. or establish a chasm that
cannot be crossed Aud even II they
were separated by a Glnungagap, or
gaping abyss. the two elements would
meet, as the fire from Muspclhelm and
the Ice from Ninhelm, in the cosmogony
of the ANCIENT Norsemen. The very
mission OF the Church Is to teach men
the principles OF truth and righteous
ness, and turn their hearts In unseliish
love toward God and fellow-men. and
wherever this Is accomplished, the
state Ii affected. Oflcers become hon
est. Politics is no longer only the art
of influencing public opinion for selfish
purposes. 1t Is modified by moral
principles. The American govern
ment itself is the result OF the
prevalence OF principles taught by
Jesus of Nazareth. Through religious
influences maintained for ages, some-
times under bitter prosecutions and
at the sacrifice Of lives on the altar
OF martyrdom. the human states have
been formed and nodded, until they
have become what they are today.
recognizing human claims to liberty,
equality and brotherhood. Had the
Apostle Paul RETAINED from attacking
slavery. that institution would probably
still have been a part Of every social
structure 1t Is the very mission of
the Church to influence men to do
what is right IN all things, and this
~ kind of church influence that
must be kept up. lest the principles
OF evil In all It's manifestations he
come predominant in the affairs Of the
state.
Mr.. Romolo Murr an Italian who
believes In the separation Of church
and state. takes this same view. Ac-
cording TO an extract from an article
translated for Tho Literary Digest he
says:
ANY one, however, who concludes
from what we have said above that
We maintain the separation Of church
and state sic ct simplciter IN an abb
solute ana essential manner, Is quite
mistaken. We think separation
good aud useful thing so far rs II inn
plies the abolition of certain definite
and historic relations which are no
longer suitable or advantageous Ia
either party But separation, IN the
full SENSE OF the term, as implying an
utter absence OF connection between
the two societies. we regard as q con.
tradiction IN terms In order to OBJ
lain such n separation Il would be nec-
cssary TO cut the conscience of every
human individual IN two, one-half tO
he the director OF religious activity the
other half of all the remaining sphere
~ life The church and the state, by
this unity nf the human conscience. are
made one IN their pursuit Of tho very
highest ends Historically they have
been allies or rivals IN the work Of
education, moral and intellectual In
the field Of education To use that word
IN ts widest Significance Qs including
the exercise of a lofty influence on the
social efficiency of all the legislative
and judicial Institutions Of the land,
the church and state viii always be
brought IN contact with each other
and unless they come TO conflict they
must come To am understanding Such
an understanding will be the sole guar
unty " such an activity MS win alone
enable them 10 see and define the
mutual relations Of their national ex-
istCnce."
This IS the only rational position.
Aud rs long as that is maintained by
The leaders Of both state and church
there can be no danger Of undue inter.
ference by ono institution IN the az.
fairs OF the other although II wiz be
found impossible to cut all connec-
ton between them as If one were To-
Gated ON earth and the other on Nep-
tune.