The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-23
VIM. HOWARD TAFT'S RELIGION
The Unitarian Belief is Explained

The fact that Hon. w. H. Tai. is a
Unitarian in his religious belief and
church membership is being made the
basis of much attack. In the interest
of fair play. the full facts should be
stated.
1t has been charged that Mr.. Taft
is not Christian. Without discuss
ing the question as to whether joining
any church proves that a man is real
ly Christian, it may be stated that
the Unitarians are believers in the
Christian faith. In a national confer
ence, common basis of belief was
found in the statement that I'VE &C
accordance with his teaching, that
practical religion is summed up in
love to God and love to man."
Unitarian belief has further been ex-
pressed in the five principles. adopted
by practically all the churches, I'VE
believe in the Fatherhood of God, the
brotherhood of man, the leadership of
Jesus, salvation by character the pro-
gress of mankind onward and upward
forever
1t has also been charged that Mr.
Taft denies the divinity of Jesus
Christ. AS matter of fact, the Uni
tartan church does not stand for any
particular theory of the nature of
Jesus. 1t maintains that the real re-
ligious and Christian duty is to follow
him as great leader in spiritual life
The particular conception as to what
Jesus was, is entirely a personal mat
ter, with which the church has moth
ing to do.
The distinctive characteristic of the
Unitarian church is its frank adoption
OF the rational principle in religion.
1t insists that religion shall be treat
ed in the scientific spirit of free in
vestigation. 1t asserts the authority
OF the individual reason and holds
that does not approve itself to ones
intellect as being worthy of belief
The Unitarian church offers a free
Fellowship. 1t holds that freedom is
absolutely essential to religious devel.
opment. Every member is Rt liberty
to form his own conception of the
truth, and is expected to be true to it,
however much it may differ from the
belief of others. There is no hint of
conformity or compulsion. The com.
mon basis OF union is desire to know
the truth and to do the good.
There is the fullest acceptance of
the principle of progress in religion.
1t affirms God of modern life, an
enlarging revelation of His will and
truth, and an ever-progressing faith,
keeping pace with the advancement
Of human thought and evolution. Uni.
| tarianism simply insists upon having
IN religion the same liberty that all
Americans claim in all other realms
Of thought and action.
Other Unitarians.
In being a Unitarian. Hon. William
H. Taft is in excellent company
Many OF the greatest men and women
that this country has produced have
| been Unitarians.
There have already been four avow
| edly Unitarian presidents of this re
public, Thomas Jefferson, John Ad
ans, John Quincy Adams and Willard
Fillmore. Jefferson wrote. Il trust
there Is not a young man now In the
United States who win not die a Uni
tartan" Abraham Lincoln once defin
ed his religious belief in exactly the
same words as those adopted by the
Unitarian national conference, while
Washington's biographer declares tina
he was simply a deist in his religion.
belief.
| Daniel Webster. Charles Sumner
John c. Calhoun, John A. Andrew, ans
Senator George F. Hoar were Unitar
ians. 1t IL an interesting fact tina,
nino g tie tventy-eisht persons in