The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-24
CHURCH WILL SEND
PROTEST TO BOARD.
First Baptist Congregation OPP
posed to Bible Reading in
City Schools.
COMMITTEE is APPOINTED
Instructed to Present Views and
Historic Position of Baptists
OH Question.

Following a sermon by Rev George w
Mcdaniel. d. D.. In which he upheld
complete religious liberty and de-
nounccd state interference in religious
matters, members of tho First Baptist
Churct, In n called conference ycstcr-
day morning. drafted resolutions OK
pressing their dlsapproval OF coInpui-
sory B:ble-rcading in tho public
7chcolH and appointed Il committee to
present their views on tho question
To the City School Bcard Tie text of
the resolutions follows:
Whereas it Is not tho function of
the state to teach religion. and where
Us the highest interests OF tho church
a0S state arc promoted 10y their en-
We separation. and whereas recent ac-
ton ut the School Euard in interprctcd
rs the CIVIL authority ordering the
reading of religious book. the Bible:
therefore. he it
Resolved, That Or. George w Nc
lianie! and Brethren Ashton Starlxc. r.
e Williams. S. l.. Woodson a. W. PAT
terson and j. Booton Hill he appointed
a. committee to appear before the
Giiy SCHOOL Board and present our
views ana the historic position of the
Eaptisto OH this uestion"
NO Reference to RESOLUTIONS,
The power that uorkctl, in Won.
Was the text OF DIR. McDanicrs sermon.
re made no direct allusion to the ac-
ton OF tho School Board. bun smnha-
si1ed he principle OF religious libertv
ana the separation of church and
state. '''u
This presents Gos's system Of cdu-
eating the race TO fulhm His purpose,
"e saio INC Creators method Is that
on STIMULATING inward resolutions rath-
er than that OF cocrcivc communicates
from without
Chiidron forced to attend Sunday
sthoci sometimes react and comnIil-
SION In youth may cause antipathy
later on.
There was a time when the theory
Whose is the government his i. 10
religion, was held by a vast moin-,t,
OF thristendom. This text is ;, de-.
ll'ai or that theory. Followin,, ~.
iaisc doctrine. Louis NV. revoked thc
Edict OF Nantes, signed by his prc.,t-
srhnotathcr. Henry of Navarro: calvin
heu SerNetus at the stake: Luther
me nouhos OF persecution on the
haPt'sts; Holland destroyed her rro.,t
est statesman, John Barniveldt. ana
nahished her great historian. t;r,tiu.
i'ehrS VII. delighted to persccute FIR
conscience and John Knox, OF SCOT.
innd. SO tnrnishcd his great na,nc III.
quickest pages i'll American history ars
those which record the religious nor
solutions in Massaclusctt.. t.o,,n.,.,i
cut hiid Virginia.
IN Massachusetts, OBADIAH, Holmes
was whipped, Clark was imprisoned
ana Roger Williams banished ~
Ashheiu, Conn. they did cop,iscatc tho
property OF Baptists 10 build a church
i1r ahother denomination. In vir-
gina, Baptists were persecuted IN i'm
prisonment for no other reason than
preaching the Gospel rs they under
$1,000 II and refusing to support an es
tablished church
Fcnrs Itcsult of Union.
Whenever there is union OF church
ana state YOU are apt To have perse-
cution FOR conscience sake.
AT 4 dinner in England rob,
hright asked a Baptist statesman he
sac MN. What special contributions
nave Your people made to the world .,
civil and religious liberty was the
reply. ''e
great contribution. commented
Bancroft. in his history Of Amer
Tea, declares. Freedom of conscience
unlimited freedom of mind, was from
the hrst the trophy of the Baptists'
IN the charter Of the COLONY ~
llhode Island occur the following
Noros; no person within the said col
my az any time hereafter. shall be
ia any wise moiestcd, punished. dis
Guieted. or called III question for anv
niHerchce or opinion in religious mat
lcrS' any person may at all times fully
ana freely enjoy his own judrmcn,
ana conscience in matters of religious
concernIncnt And the charter of that
Oldest baptist school in America. Brown
University. contains clause OF INC
same import"
ucI in nv uro