Evening journal., 1908-06-03
JUDGES AND THE
DIVINE LAW
Lively Discussion at Confer
enCe of the National
Reform Association

| After having challenged the state
ment by other participants in the dis
cussion that judges should subserve
the civil law 10 the divine law, the Rev.
George z. Mason. pastor Of the. Firs.
! Presbyterian Church. while conducting
the opening parliament concluding this
mornings session OF the reform con-
/ ference Of the National Reform AS
sociation in Grace NJ f. Church
/ epithet "poppicot" 10 arguments for
the overthrow OF the present scheme
of government and the substitution
therefore Of government on Bible
principles solely.
The epithet aroused immediate atten-
ton. The Rev. J. c McFeeters, ID.
D., Of Philadelphia, had said that II
judge had to choose between a divine
and civil Interpretation of a law, he
should interpret it according to the
divine law
mo judge has right 10 enforce
the law by what he may believe
divine Interpretation" declared Mr.
Mason. mo judge can thus tamper
with Justice Let him define the law
as il rests on the statute as a man
If the alw is enacted the judge has
AA' AAbMA " aAlti IT, NiltHN IL IL un-
constitutional. 10 Is up TO the voters.
These laws are common property The
church and the ministry are responsible
for every lax divorce law or any other
kind Of law on the statute. The
church rules the country"
Discussion In opposition 10 Mr.. Nason's
sentiment then brought Mr.. Mason to his
feet. "What these men have said is poppl.
cock and YOU know IT," he asserted. "You
know that you do not believe that men in
office ought to resign because the civil
law is not compatible with what they may
think the Bible law, and thus leave the
country to the free hand ~ the devil. II
IS not the office holders duty to reform
the law, II Is the citizens duty-yours and
nine"
The Rev. William L. Pettinglli. Of North
baptist Church. presided at this mornings
session. The speakers and their subjects
were, the Rev. r. l.. Jackson, Of Han
over Presbyterian Church, "The Respon.
sbllities of citizenship" the Rev. j.
McFeeters, d. D., OF Philadelphia, "Are
Officials in the Discharge Of Public Duties
Responsible TO the Lord Jesus Christi"
and the Rev. Thomas McKeekin, of Cam
don. N. j.
The Rev. J. IT, Main, Of Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church, is presiding at this af-
ternoon's session. The speakers are the
Pew. 7. J. Hopkins the Rev. j. B. Gil
mere of New York, the Rev. J. Mnllgan
wylie, Of Greeley, Colorado. A parliament
will be conducted by the Rev. Clinton d.
DUNN. assistant rector OF St. Johns
Episcopal Church
The speakers tonight will be the Rev
W. j. Coleman of Pittsburg Pa. and the
Rev. II. II. George. d. D.. OF Beaver Falls.
Pa. Tomorrow will be the last day Of
the conference.
The opening session OF the conference
on civic Righteousness. under the
auspices OF the National Reform AS
sociation, was held IN Grace M. +.
! Church last night The Rev. Charles
A. Hill. pastor of ST. Paurs M. Z.
Church, presided, and the Rev. j. Rem
wick Dill. of Philadelphia. secretary
OF the association. who spoke on "The
Saloon a Nuisance, License Unconsii-
tutlonal." and the Rev. George c.
Senser Of Camden, N. j.. who spoke
on THE Relation of the Christian
Sabbath TO the Perpetui,y Of Our Ma
tion." We're the speakers
! Mr.. Dill reverted % that section Of
the law which prohibited the sale OF
! liduor on election days and SUNDAYS to
secure an orderly observance of these
! days. and contcnded that what was
good for "a days in tie year should
be good for the remaining three hum
| dred and eleven.
In dealing with the question Of the
saloon as being opposed TO the consu-
tuition. the speaker used a diagram
! showing the home. nation, family, indi-
vidual. his avocation, body. mind and
happiness. all to be damaged and in
many cases ruined by tho liquor traffic
and as these are all insured under the
preamble Of the constitution, anything
which initiates against them must oi
necessity be unconstitutional. His re.
marks were frequently interrupted by
applause, and at the close Of the al
dress an ovation was accorded him.
MR.. sENSER'S WORDS.
Mr. Senser said In psrt:
"A number Of burning questions arc
now before the American people for
sediment. questions which are un-
settling the people. and the theme Of
sabbath relation 20 the welfare Of our
nation is one well worthy Of serious
thought and earnest consideration.
do not intend TO add much to what has
already been said. but wish TO impress
the fact that the Christian Sabbath is
an American institution, inseparable
from the well being Of the country. this
observance not being a product Of our
soil or genious. but ne first law OF
/ God. put in effect when He rested from
His labor of creation. reannounced on
Sinai and Incorporated in the life of the
Jewish nation, from which IL was in
corporated as a part of our body polite
and has become one OF the foundations
of our constitution. II belongs 10 MS.
is incorporated in our national life and
II man said that he cid not believe
in il we could never send him 20 tho
/ White House"