Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-12-30
DIR. McK1M's SERMON.
Says American Principles Were Born
of The Reformation.

Rev. Dr.. Randolph H McKim, de-
livered sermon Sunday in the Church
of the Epiphany, Washington, on the
occasion of his twenty-hfth anniver-
sary as rector of the church, on "The
Contribution of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church to the Making of the Re-
public" He said in conclusion:
LET me exhort you, then my dear
brethren, with all the earnestness
can command, to maintain at all haz-
ards the Protestant character Of our
beloved church. That is its strength.
That is its reason for being. Around
that clusters its most glorious tradi-
tions. 1t became Protestant at the
Reformation in order that it might re-
main Catholic. Its Professionalism is
an essential condition of its primi-
tive and catholic character. Only by
fidelity to the principles of,the Refor-
nation can we fulfill our mission to
the American people.
"Remember that the principles
which lie at the root ofthe American
Constitution were born of the Refor-
nation. That statement has recently
been challenged, but without any sub
stantial ground whatever.
"Michelet, the well-known historian,
declares that it is to Martin Luther
the moderh worl3 owes. the immense
benefits of intellectual enfranchlse-
men. Luther" he says, was the re-
storer of liberty
an the American colonies, religi-
Gus liberty was not at first under
stood, nor conceded. But in time it
came as the twin sister of that po-
litical liberty which was so passion
ately maintained by our forefathers.
And when the Revolution came, both
religious and civil liberty were graft
ed upon the Declaration of 1ndepend-
ence and the Constitution of the
United States.
"The first article of that immortal
instrument declares that Congress
shall make no law respecting an es-
tablishment of religion, or prohibit
ing the free c,.arriSe S.herenf: or
abridging the freedom of speech Or of
the press
"The historian Bancroft, so OTTER
quoted of late declares that America
is the chief heir of the Reformation
in it's purest form He also tells US
that all the thirteen colonies were
Protestant Even in Maryland only
one-twelfth of the population was 9TH
er than Protestant. So that Amer
ica at the time of the Revolution, was
a most thoroughly Protestant coun-
try.
almost two-thirds Of the signers
of the Declaration of independence
were Protestant Episcopalians (thir-
ty-four out of ffty-six). The Father
of the Constitution was Protestant
and an Episcopalian. So was the great
Chief Justice, its great interpreter
So was Patrick Henry. So was Ben
6.min Franklin. So was Richard
Henry Lee.
"John Fisk, the Massachusetts, his
torian. has said that there were tlve
rreat men who made the American
nation: Washington Jefferson, Mar
shall Madison and Hamilton. But
all of them were Protestants and
some of the Episcopal Church.
T.et me say then in conclusion that
M fact in all the range of history Is
more clearly and undeniably estab
]ished than that our American Consti,
tuition was established by a Protest
ant neople and under the inspiration
IF Protestant IDEAS. And then let mt
ask YOU if we, whose ancestors toilee
and suffered and died to create thl:
wonderful fabric of liberty and self
Government should supinely allow OUT
heritage of freedom to be insidiousll
taken from us!