New-York tribune., 1907-12-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THIS Is A CHRISTIAN NATION.
Authority of the Supreme Court of the
limited States Back of the Statement.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Clear cut and positive statements TO be
r,rizea when they accurate. The man who
tooz-s can afford 70 be positive. knowledge tends
n clearness We listen 10 such when they speak.
They have authority, and We are enlightened.
There is another class who equally positive.
rhey evolve their knowledge not from study of the
facts but from some process which might be called
..nuer light II facts against them, much
she worse for the facts This is not entirely be
sieriored for # adds to the gayety of nations.
we owe great debt 10 the Rev. William A.
WATSON Of Riverhead. Long Island, right here.
II Is postiyeIy refreshing TO read his solemn
declaration: ''Our religion like blood, is h
congIonerate. but TO say that are a Christian
nation is both illogical and untrue. As nation
we have no religious character or complexion. We
rever were, and it is 10 be hoped shall
become q Christian nation This is most delight
5ui. There is note of hnality about the speakers
iictun which commands attention The paucity
Of cited authorities upon which this glorious super
structure rests is due. doubtless limited space,
which prevented full report OF his statement
1 appalled,, amazed horrihed-consternation
hath taken hold Of rae-Fhen ! remember how
grievcusly have gone astray. / was not wholly
blame. The Supreme Court of the United States
responsible for my believing that this is and
always has been g Christian nation. a diabolical
conspiracy Il hope am not laying myself open to
penalty for contempt of court, what seems like
ttl has been entered into by the justices Of that
august body. / shall. at the risk of my liberty,
proclaim to all the world their nefarious conduct
Then be it known that in the case of the Church
of the Holy Trinity agt. the United States lab
L. s. 457 the Supreme Court declared that this is
simply religious nation but Christian nation
Mr.. Justice Brewer delivered the opinion Be-
had the privilege of reading in this mornings
Tribune the wisdom of our reverend brother re-
gsroed that opinion highly. / used 10 think 1t a
remarks bly, able and lucid discussion of the ques
ton The historical and legal aspects were so
fully entered upon that it carried me off my mental
feet, so TO speak.
The learned justice quotes from the commission
to Christopher Columbus. from Colonial grants
from the compact made by the Pilgrims in the
Mayfower, from the fundamental orders Of Con-
necticlt from the charter of privileges granted by
William Penn, from the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, from the constitutions of various states.
from the Constitution of the United States, and
what is especially interesting to citizens of the
State OF New York, from e decision of Chancellor
Kent, whom Justice Brewer calls 1.-THE great COM
mentator American law in the People agt
Ruggles Johns, 2so. 90. 2S5 In which that learned
Judge held that we a Christian people Then
Justice Brewer uses these words, ana they are the
decision of the Supreme Court: These. and many
either matters which might be noticed. add vol
un1e OF unofficial declarations TO the mass OF
Eanic utterances that this is Christian nation
How 1t ever happened that / regarded this de-
cison as logical and true is one of the things
which passes comprehension The Rev. William
a. wasson declares: ITO say Christian
nation is both illogical and untrue Surely some
punishment should be inflicted upon the Supreme
Court Is il right decent that those digniied
judges should say things which both illogical
and untrue? They ought to have the grievous
error of their ways shown them j would suggest
that copies OF the minister's statement, marked
with a blue pencil be sent to them, and, further,
that d demand be made upon them that they
cant, -enounce, revoke and reverse the decision
which so plausibly maintains that we are a Chris
tian people, but which know, the
thority OF the inner light without regard
Facts, lis both Illogical and untrue" Surely they
this act Of reparaton all those they have
led astray- ROBERT j. THOMSON.
Bound Broos, y. J.. Dec. q. 1901