The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-22
DR., STRONG TALKS ON
STATE AND RELIGION
Says France is Fighting PapaI
Theocracy
INCLINES TO PESSIMISM
Thinks Crime In America Shows This
Country to Be Far Behind
Many Nations of
Europe.
INCLINES TO PESSIMISM

A large and attentive audience attended
the lecture delivered by DR.. Josiah Strong
in the First Baptist church last night.
The speaker was introduced in a few
complimentary and well chosen words
by the Rev. A. ]. Dickinson, pastor of the
church.
DR.. Strong began his lecture by paying
a very high tribute to the city of Biz
mingham. making special mention of the
great natural resources which abound in
the district. You can make any. pro-
phecy you wish about the future popula-
ton or production of this city and safely
depend on Providence to fulfil IT," said
the lecturer.
the future the speaker said that there
was something more than material great
ness to be considered, the people should
see to 1t that as the city became rich
and populous it should grow in morals
and enlightenment.
The speaker announced that his lecture
would be on a topic in which he felt sure
good many people were interested. The
title of his lecture, he said, was 1.-The
State and Religion"
Dr. Strong drew attention to the con-
dition in France today where the strug-
gle between church and state is being
SO bitterly fought, and he said that SIM
liar conditions prevailed in Spain, in
Italy, in England, everywhere the move
ment was to seperate the church and
state. The lecturer read several extracts
from addresses delivered by Cardinal Glib
bons and Archbishop Ireland, in which
they expressed their approval of the con-
dition of the Catholic church as it exists
in the United States. "rhe action in
France today" said the lecturer lis not
against the Catholic religion, it is against
papal theocracy.'
In speaking of papal theocracy, the lee
turer gave the history of its use under
Charlemagne in the eighth century. At
that time barbarian hordes swept over
Europe, carrying death and destruction in
their path and leaving desolation behind
them. 1t required the united effort of
Europe to repel the invaders, and the
pope was the only man able to effect that
union. The Catholic church undertook
the task and accomplished it, after which
there was no further necessity for papal
theocracy than there would be for a man
wearing a suit of mail in the streets of
city today. In speaking OF the concordat
entered into between Napoleon and the
pope in 1901, the lecturer said that that
was another occasion on which it re-
qured the services of the church to re-
the French revolution, but that when or
der was restored the concordat might be
abrogated.
The speaker drew very learned dis
tinction between church and religion
pointing out that the state should do all
In its power to foster religion but not any
particular form of religion as represented
by the various churches.
Passing along to the status of religion
in the United States the speaker said
that religion should be taught in the
public schools, and by religion he said
he meant the belief in a Supreme Be-
ing, and a future state of rewards or
punishments He said the interest and
welfare of the state was above the in
diyidual, and that the child of agnostic
or athelstle parents should be taught re-
ligion just as well as sthe children of
parents who believed in God and a here
after. He said that the abolition of re-
iisious ." .'o 'N''9 o"' VI
delefehee TO THESE chldfen or their pa
rents would result in leaving one-half
of the children in the country ignorant
of %eligion The lecturer drew n coin
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I'm no ~ y LIN
Oh IT. III oou we trust saying ne
had yet to hear OF the man who re-