Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-05-25
Christian ENDeAv0R.



Topic.-Is ouss q Christian nation Pa
r. Doyle. D. D.
The only answer that can be given
10 the Question as the United States Of
America Christian nationT Is that
II is. To say that a nation IL a
Christian nation does not mean that
every citizen Of that country is
Christian. nor does 1t mean that there
are no adherenfs Of other religions
within its bounds. The Chinese en-
pire is Confucian, 30 far as religion Is
concerned, but multitudes Of It's people
are not followers Of Confucius, bat are
Buddhists. Brahnans and Christians.
SO it is to a greater or less extent with
al nations. But the United States In
numbers, In the character Of its gov
eminent. In its history and develop
ment, is by far more Christian than
China Is Confucian or India Is Brah-
man. II is more distinctively OF one
particular religion Christianity than
perhaps any other nation In the world.
]. Numerically our nation Is Chris
tian nation. The recent religious CEN
sus gives the total membership Of
Christian churches as about g. 100000.
But actual membership In the Chris
tan church does not begin 10 include
the entire number Of our people who
are Christian In heart and tn belief.
Every actual church member repre-
sents on an average between one and
two who are Christians in preference
to any other religion, 50 that within a
few millions Of our population, and
they representing unbelief rather than
faith In any other religion. all our
people are professors or advocates OF
Christianity. No other religion has
any numerical hold upon our nation
2. Our nation, from a historical
standpoint, always has been Christian
Christian people settled our land God
led them here from tyranny and per
secution abroad In all their strug-
giles and dangers they put their trust
In God, and He blessed and helped
them In all great national crises
we have depended upon the God Of
Christianity. Moreover, today, In peace
as in time Of war, in quiet as In
storm, our nation goes steadily on id
vancing in Christian civilization.
g. In the basic principles OF her gov
eminent our nation is Christian Gods
name may not be written In the consti-
tuition Of the United States. but it is
plainly written In the character OF that
immortal document II not written In
the constitution II Is stamped upon our
coins, and when popular president
decided to omit the motto I'm God We
Trust" the people demanded Its reten-
don. and 1t was retained. None but a
Christian nation would have taken
such vigorous position and compelled
its opinion to be regarded. The laws
Of our states are practically Christian
as well as the vast majority Of our Of
ficeholders. No atheist could be elected
to any important Office In our land.
Robert G.. Ingersor was once under
consideration as candidate for gov
ernor Of New York, but bis party
dared not nominate him because Of
hts agnosticism. Some time later be
sarcastically asked, What good has
Christianity ever done anyway A
clever elderly lady at once replied, 1T
kept Robert Ingersou from being gov
ernor OF New YORK. mat was great
good at least
L. The attitude OF our nation TOWARD
Foreign missions DEMONSTRATES tnat II
other Christian nations II It's 1oreagn
mission benevoaence and activities
America Is looked uDOn by the world