Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-14
CHURCH FOLK OBJECT
EpiscopaIians Protest Against
 Change of Motto on Coins.
q DID IT," SAYS ROOSEVELT.

President Declares That "In God We
 Trust" Inscription on Money Is In
 Effect Irreverence Which Comes Close
 to SacriIeee.
 Washington, Nov. 14.-In answer to one of the numerous protests which have been received at the White House against the new gold coins which have just been coined without the words "In God We Trust President Roose- welt made public the following:
 When the question of the new coinage came up, we looked into the law and found there was no warrant therein for putting "1n God We Trust on the coins. AS the custom, although without legal warrant, had grown up however, might have felt at liberty to keep the inscrip- tion had I approved of its being on the coinage. But as I did not approve of it did not direct that it should again be put on. Of course the matter of the law is absolutely in the hands of congress, and any direction of congress in the matter will be immediately obeyed. At present, as have said, there is no warrant in law for the inscription.
 Close to SaeriIege.
 My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such motto on coins or to use it in any kin dred manner not only does no good, but does positive harm and is in effect irrev- erence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege. A beautiful and solemn sen tence such as the one in question should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily implies certain exaltation of spirit. Any use which tends to cheapen 1t and, above all, any use which tends to secure its being treated in a spirit of levity Is from every standpoint profoundly to be regretted. It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monu- ments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls and In buildings such as those at West Point and Annapolis-in short wherever 1t will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But 1t seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen 1t by use on postage stamps or in ad- vertisements.
 Cites Inscriptions on Cartoons.
 As regards its use on the coinage we have actual experience by which to go. In all my life I have never heard any hu- man being speak reverently of this motto on the coins or show any signs of its hav- ing appealed to any high emotion in him, but I have literally hundreds of times heard it used as an occasion of and in- citement to the sneering ridicule which it is above all things undesirable that so beautiful and exalted phrase should ex- cite For example, throughout the long contest extending over several decades on the free coinage question the existence of this motto on the coins was constant source of jest and ridicule, and this was unavoidable.
 Every one must remember the innumer- able cartoons and articles based on phrases like "In God we trust for the 8 cents," Tn God we trust for the short weight" "In God we trust for the 37 cents we do not pay" and so forth and 50 forth. Surely I am well within bounds when I say that use of the phrase which invites constant levity of this type is most undesirable. If congress alters the law and directs me to replace on the coins the sentence in question, the direction will be immediately put into effect. but l very earnestly trust that the religious senti- ment of the country. the spirit of rever-
  such action being taken.
 Episcopal Convention Protests.
 A dispatch from New York says that after a heated discussion lasting an hour and a half, in which many eff forts were made to sidetrack the sub ject of debate, a resolution protesting against the removal of the motto Tn God We Trust" from the coins was adopted by the Episcopal diocesan con vention in that city. The vote stood 131 in favor of and s1 opposed to the resolution. It was offered by the Rev. Dr. w. NJ. Grosvenor, rector of the Church of the Incarnation, Madison avenue and Thirty fifth street, and was as follows:
 "Whereas, It has been announced that in the coining of certain pieces of the money of the United States there has been omitted the words used from the foundation of the republic. Tn God We Trust therefore. be it
 Resolved. That this convention pro tests against such change and declares that the highest interests of our coun- try demand the preservation of all those customs that haEe stood for the recognition of God In the life of the people"
 Among those speaking for the resolu- tion were John T. Faure, Everett P. Wheeler. pr. Grosvenor and Dr. s. Delaney Townsend. Several of those who opposed the resolution were the Rev. Leighton Parks. rector of St. Bar the Rev. Dr. ]. l.. Parks. Calvary church: George Zabriskie and the Rev. W. T. Manning. assistant rec for of Trinity parish.