Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-06
ARE AMERICANS ATHEISTS

Reverend Washington GLADDEN.. sthe
Ohio CONGREGATIONAL minister Who
some time ago. attracted attention by
his attacks on Mr. Rockefeller. now
charges this country with practical
atheism" Mr. GLADDEN. has published
q volume on 1.-THE New Idolatry." In
which he discusses the relations OF re-
ligIon and democracy, and that Is the
conclusion he arrives at. In theory, we
are, he admits, not atheists, but In
room for God in our politics than in
our business.
DR.. GLADDEN. points out that we con-
slider citizenship as n right rather than
duty The result is that many think
they can do with IL whatever they
please. They even sell their votes. Tho
right to hold Office IL, similarly. inter-
preted as the right to use the power II
gives for personal emolument The
conception is wrong, ne says, and origi-
mates In the failure TO recognize the
divine agency In the structure OF the
state.
Another evidence OF practical ath-
| eism the author finds In the growing
| disrespect for the laws. and stu an
| other In the bitterness with which po-
litical antagonists denounce each other.
The prevailing disposition, he says. to
dsparage or denounoe everything that
is done by political opponents Ia clear
| sign that there Is no reyerent recogni-
| ton OF the presence of God In the az
| fairs OF the nation.
or the greatest interest Is the remedy
| which the doctor suggests. He believes
| that our democracy cannot continue
| TO exist unless the truth OF the BROTH
| erhood Of man Is restored and lifted up
| and emphasized as the constructive Idea
Of all our civil life. He has no faith
In the commonly suggested reform
measures. He says, as quoted in the
Literary Digest:
| There ia nothing In all this TO call
forth enthusiasm or to warrant saori-
flce. There Is nothing here worth fight
| ing and dying for, Something there
must be In the appeal that the dem
| ocracy makes to It's citizens which II
/ deeper than sef-interest and diviner
than the WIN Of the majority IL we
can believe that In the nation, not less
| truly than In the individual. II IL God
| that worketh, that there IL q power
| not ourselves that makes for righteous
| ness In the ongoings OF the state. that
there n q moral ideal toward which he
Is leading us, and which Il IL our bust.
ness to discern and realize: that thus,
| II we are humble, and reverent and
obedient to the Light that llghteth ey-
cry man. We may be co-workers with
God In the building OF His kingdom In
the world, then there are motives TO
be drawn from the life OF the State that
are higher than mere expedlency. that
appeal TO faith and imagination and
self-devotlon-to all the hobler posi-
billtles of the soul--and are able to
make men heroes, patriots, martyrs for
the commonwealth"
Or. GLADDEN. has stated very clearly
the belief Of the Latter-day Saints on
that subject, and indicated the great
ideal that was before the Prophet JOS
eph and all his successors the recog-
milton of God In all the affairs OF life,
and the union by the bonds OF faith,
hope and charity, OF all men, Into a
true brotherhood And this is needed,
II II Is true, as the Rev. gentleman
contends, that without II our democra-
cy cannot continue, Vital truths are
expressed In the volume referred to-
truths which the Amprirpn citizens
sooner or later must consider and
upon. The fear Of mixing church and
state, which many profess TO feel so
deeply as 70 make yhern shun all that
has religious hue, Is ;raeeable to