The Jewish outlook., 1907-12-20
''Is Ours a Christian Country 2"
BY RABBI SAMUEL SALE.

Inc OVefWIlel1lllIS iIldJoIlly VI oiie
inhabitants of this country are either
real or nominal adherents of one form
or another of Christianity, while those
who belong to all other faiths constl-
tute "A very feeble minority.
Statistically speaking then, this is
Christian country, and in the absence
of any legal provisions to the contrary,
the dominant sect, were it so inclined,
might make it quite uncomfortable for
those who dissented from its estab-
lished form of faith.
But luckily the hand of the fanatic
is stayed by the constitution OF the
United States and by the bill OF rights
which is part of the organic law OF
our own. as well as of the other com
monwealths, constituting this Union.
According to this bill of rights, all
men have natural and indefeaslble
right to worship Almighty God ac-
cording to the dictates of their own
conscience and no man ought by any
law to be molested in his person or
estate on account of his religious per-
suasion or profession.
The fundamental principle upon
which our national and state govern
ments are built up, is that OF the alb
solute divorce of church and state.
Our very beginning was propitlous.
Our nation was rocked in the cradle
of liberty and the men who called it
into being were apostles OF human
right and freedom. These patriots
had pondered well the dire lessons OF
religious persecution and fanaticism,
which were to be learnt from the ma
tions across the sea, and they deter
mined that they should not be repeat
ed i'm our land. nor should they dis
grace the fair page of our history.
Thomas jefferson said: 81 am for
religious freedom and against all ma
noeuvres to bring about legal as
tendency OF one sect over another.
The spirit of this broad-minded man.
which inspired so many of his contem-
poraries and co-workers. has come to
be regarded as the genuine type OF
true Americanism. and every depart
ure from il in the public life of the
nation or the state is regarded as be-
ing fraught with dangerous possibili-
IltS HOW IIgoIottS anu
ing Thomas jefferson was in his adj
herence to the principle of the uncon-
ditional separation of church and
state. is clearly shown by his refusing
to proclaim a national thanksgiving.
as his predecessors had done. although
he knew. as he said. that it would give
great offense to the New England
clergy This same statesman said:
"The opinions of men are not the OBJ
iect of civil government nor under its
jurisdiction. The price of liberty is
eternal vigilance.
We appreciate the profound wisdom
of the fathers of our republic in max
ing the separation of church and state
a part of the organic law of our coun
try and we cannot throw around it Il
better safeguard, nor more surely
speed its future glory and greatness
than by jealously preserving the linn
its which they have drawn between
them. and preventing at any cost the
encroachment of the one upon the sa
cred domain of the other
We want God and religion in the
hearts and homes Of our people; we
should strive with all our might to
carry the principles of pure and ex-
alted faith into the practical affairs
of life, and make justice and equity,
truth and integrity, the directive
forces in the state and society, in the
mart and the forum, but we should
dread paper God in the constitution
as we would the death-knell of liberty