The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-12-20

80 AAQ u uUuFara, uutWALlataluitk
some anticipation 10 the contrary, that
the new administration % 10 follow
the example of that Immediately pre-
ccding Il and cooperate On this annual
roligiopolltioal function. which, &C.
cordinE 20 the oficlal organ OF the
Pan-American Union (bullctin OF the
international Union OF the American
Republics. December. 1919. page
1852. has not only become a promi.
nCnt feature In the program OF Thanks.
Swing Day az the natinn's capital"
but has now assumed" an Official
character b. reason OF the pariicipa.
uon therein of the diplomatic repre-
sentatiyes OF the Americas" and "the
hiEh officials and dignitaTlca OF the
United Sutcs:" therefore. be Il
Resolved. That the WASHINGTON Sec.
ular League, standing Tor the main.
tcnance, consistent observance, and
complete realization OF the vital
American principle Of complete sep.
aration OF religion and the state and
representing a the capital OF the ma.
ton an element of American citizen.
ship especially Jealous on behalf Of
this principle, hereby respectfully but
earnestly afirms that in Rplrlt and
principle the separation of reliClon
and the state is violated when officials
OF the government az such ioln IN n
religious aud church function aud
ceremony; that officials OF the gov.
ernment OF the United States rs such
properly can have no relations what.
ever with such functions: that their
attendance upon and relations with
religious and church functions aud
ceremonies must be entirely In their
personal capacity and without any ref.
erence 10 or semblance OF their oflclal
character; that the relations Of the
government of the United States and
Its ofiicials with a q other American
governments and ,helr oficiaI repre.
sentatives, are. and under the principle
cited must be, OF an entirely non-re-
hgious character and do not require
or Include such functions as the "of.
hcial' "Pan-American Thanksgiving
Day mass celebrations, which have
been Instituted by a church repre-.
senting a religious sect or system
which is, or should be under the prln.
ciple cited, absolutely without polltl.
cal status or relationship: that IN
view OF the fact that on the one day
In the year which is set aside by pres.
idential proclamation for religious ex.
ercises-the one day in the year With
reference to which the nations high.
est ofilcial assumes, by custom, the
role OF pontiteS maxlmus aud by yir.
tue OF which action the government.
IN spite Of its fundamental principle
OF separation Of religion and the state,
allies Itself with religion and religion
takes on an official, governmental
character-that on this day, from year
TO year, the president, members OF
his cabinet, and other high govern.
ment officials as such Join in a re.
ligious and church function or cele.
bration conducted BY ecclesiastical
representatives OF particular re.
llgious sect or system, II is not strange
that the suggestion has been made
that so far as this matter Is concerned
that religious sect or system would
appear TO DO the state church" I'm
this country; that In the nature of
things that Is the end 10 which the
matter tends; that Il is not at
all strange but quite natural and
consistent that such a function as
that here dealt with should have
arisen in connection with the church.
OF THANKSGIVING
Day." decreed by Official procla.
nation, a custom and practice no less
In violation OF the spirit and
principle OF separation Of religion and
government and properly SO regarded
aud treated by two former presidents,
Jefferson and Madison; that such de.
partures from the vital American prin-
ciple of separation Of religion and the
state as are involved In the "offlcial"
"Pan-American Thanksgiving Day
mass" celebrations and In the procla-
nation OF a day OF prayer and thanks
giving to Almighty God" by the presi-
Dent have In them In principle and
tendency potentialities OF great mis-
chief for the nation and should have
the earnest and decided reprobation
OF all citizens who regard the separa.
uon OF church and state as vital and
important; and, finally, that these af.
are made with the utmost
respect for President Wilson, the
members OF the cabinet and all Of
hcials who may be concerned, and
intending to intrude in the
slightest degree upon his and their
unquestioned personal privilege and
right to attend and participate in any
religious function or ceremony what.
ever as individuals and not as of.
and be Il further
Resolved, That copies of these
resolutions be sent to the president
md other government officials and be
to the press.
The foregoing expression was
adopted by the Washington Secular
League at its regular weekly meeting
II Pythian Temple, 1l2 Ninth street
W., Washington, d. c., on Sunday,
%, 1918.
JOHN d. BRADLEY, Pres.
AQUILA BADEN, Sec.