The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-02
PLEADS FUR MUIIU
PASTOR WOULD RETAIN I'm
GOD WE TRUST"
The Rev. c. E. Granger Says That ELM
nation of Coin Inscription Would
Cause World to Misconstrue Intent.

Members of the Central Presbyterian
Snlurch VINO attended the services there
last night were treated to an interesting
discourse delivered by the pastor. the Rev.
{. E. Granger. who took for his subject
'he removal from the $40 gold coins by
Trust
IN part Mr.. Granger said:
surely We do not have to go very deep
nv Inc Scriptures, nor very deep into
cohnulon sense or human experience to see
the uuty OF and tho wisdom OF trusting in
Hou. II Is one of the foundation stones
OF truly successful living; indeed, 1t is the
Solher-stohe IN mat foundation. And the
principle OF trusting in God, as a duty, as
q sasaelty, applies equally to individuals,
70 Families, to institutions n TO nations.
we 40 not have to go very deep into
american history to see that trust in God
was a basic principle with the founders
OF our nation IN the great work they had
an nand. The Declaration OF Independence
peglns with d full recognition OF God and
ynos VIII an expression of reliance upon
his divine protection. Washington's
Farewell Address climbs paragraph after
paragraph to the very heights of sweet
ana simple confidence In the Almighty.
WINE the Emancipation Proclamation con-
eiudes with an appeal for the favor OF
Almighty God and as one studies these
anu other sacred, historic, national deliv-
frances, he is impressed with the fact
Ina these expressions are not mere per-
arnctors phrases but the sincere express
bions OF devout, relying souls.
II may De freely said that the heritage
~ our nation from these confessions OF
voc from men in the past Is inestimable.
II is OF greatest value to a nation as to
al individual, to be early taught to stay
upon God. And it is a worthy thing for
d hation as 1t is for an individual to
acknoWledge that reliance ard to confess
Lnat dependence and to publish that con-
ndenee. 1t is also wise and a fitting
tninR for a nation or a government, by
constant exhortation, suggestion and eX-
aIipie, TO encourage the people In and in
Spire the people to this trust in the great
Ruler of Nations
proudly and gratefully we say it, our
iaAd has been signally blessed with agents
mitigation of this great duty and wise con-
duct of trusting in God. The Righteousness
or the early colonists, and later founders OF
our nation, the characters of The men who
nave occupied the office of Chief Executive
and OF many other more prominent III orr
national life, the American Christian
Sabbath now sad to say in awful jeopardy;
and not least our national day of thanks
giving and prayer, all these have constant
ly. repeatedly warned the nation, appealed
TO the nation to trust in God.
But anothtr agency has been used to
this end, in he way of profession, sugge
ton and appeal. Upon some of our national
coins In currency has for years been in
seribed the sinrle. dlgnifed and Ieverent
phrase. In God We Trust This inscrip-
ton is now under the executive pan, snd
is omitted ftom the pew coinage being
minted. 1t is against the erasure Of Ibis
phrase from nu- coinage that 1 With many
fellow citizens wish 10 protest.
II am aware tina. there Is even among
God-fearing people a real diversity of opin-
ion upon the matter. | do not Tor one
moment question either Mr.. Roosevelt's
or integrity or reverence. | only
think, but fitmly believe him and those OF
like opinion 10 be mistaken and in serious
error.
THE argument for the removal of this
phrase from our coinage seems to be, first
and foremost, that it is incongruous, and
subject to ridicule and jest. ! see nothing
homogeneous in its use. If trust in God is
opposed to the spirit of graft and greed,
then It appears to me very fitting and wise
that there should be upon our coins this
warning, this admonition, put not your
trust in horses, in chariots, in princes. in
mighty men, in silver or gold,~ but in
God for things both temporal and spiritual.
What, may we ask. could be used as a
substitute for this time-honored. reverent
phrase? VIII we leave the space an ach-
Ing void? or will we attempt a substitute?
l have heard some suggestions. A body of
christian men In New York suggest the
wharf MSTai that s means anf I dd the Knew RePp1 andi I d ISft
10y do. ! have heard suggested
,oJnnIs9 and Liberty but that is poor. We
|H4tTmS use Remember the Maine n
.prat v the pTDIdile SltIile0I III EOGlety. we
fiiebI with the change OF but a single
word use the phrase Bismarck Numbered
70 tbe world in the Franco-Prussian war,
Germany fears nothing but God We
might with the change of a single word
use the popular British phrase God Save
the King But no, they will not do. No
man, no body of men, could select or de-
wise a phrase that could give such general
satisfaction and be so generally acceptable
as the one, In God We Trust. 1t has
nothing of the bravado and defiance Of
Germany fears etc. 1t has nothing of
the vengeance of Remember the Maine.
1t has nothing of the idol worship of God
Save the King. 1t has nothing of the
of God and the Republic It
Is at once simple, pure, dignifed. reverent,
and above all, | am glad to believe. sin
cere. homogeneous do they say, obsolete
they say? Why, do we not as a nation
trust Cod? Who is saying In God We
Not the man who owns the coin,
The man who profanes the coin, not
man who corrupts the coin, but the
government that Issues the coin; repre-
senting the good and righteous people of
nation. Then. If we as a nation trust
Ciod let us say SO, anywhere. everywhere.
with decency and dignity over
over again. And let us beware in the
erasure Of this phrase lest the world mis-
the intent and meaning, for,
while we know that 1t is all right and eve
with the omission we are not repudiatin8
religion or God, yet the world will never
understand that, and the %reproach will be
upon us.
"And so | believe that our President and
his advisers In this to be mistaken and In
Vrqpr prrOrb