The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-07-28
THE QUESTION OF CHURCH

ITO THE people Of the United
States to whom the happiness
= and peace of their native lano
is dear, there is appearing vista
ton on the horizon of this beautiful
land, of religious rancor and intoler-
ance that is most unwelcome. An
epidemic of leprosy or black plague
is mild compared with this periodic
outbreak of religious contention and
suspicion. 1t is positively hateful to
the majority of peace and justice low
ing people who are watching the
growth of this despicable visitation
which is being famed and fed by the
several "menacing" yellow sheets in
the country which are poisoning the
views Of the softer minded members
of society with its virulent stories.
1t is hopeful sign that many Cath
olics and Protestants can find no room
in their big hearts for such dark fears,
trepidations and suspicious. They rea-
lie and know that we must all live
together in this country, and it is
simply a question as to whether or
not we will live in state of peace
and tranquility or hostility and mis-
understanding. If we want peace we
must work for the things that will
bring it about, and strive to destroy
the poisonous germ which threatens
to spread if neglected.
History teaches US that the gov
eminent of a state by the direct die
tation of the Church can not progress.
Races of people have tried it and it
has failed We had taste Of theo-
cracy in New England when the Con-
gregational Church aspired and did
rule those states, and it is the dark
est period in its history. This is con-
elusive proof that there is need Of re-
sisting any such tendency on the part
of any religious denomination, no mat
ter how cleverly, to dictate the poll
tics and policies of the commonwealth.
The person who seeks to poison
the minds of his fellowmen with
"stories" of churches receiving occult
shipments of arms and ammunition
away in secret rooms in their base
ments; the fellow who goes about
with his pockets filled with this spur
ious, yellow literature for gratutious
distribution; the man who seeks to
infame the people whom he meets
with tales of religious rancor and
filth; these are as much of menace
to society and the nation as is the
criminal.
A year or so ago an unknown
speaker addressed local audience and
among other thing said that on ships
of the United States navy during de-
vine services, it was the custom to
hoist the pope's flag over the Stars
and Stripes. The absurdity and IN
truthfulness of this knowledge of Gus
toms in the Navy. The pope's flag
is something that is positively I'M
known there. 1t does not exist in
either of our military organizations.
What the speaker referred to was
what is known as the church pen
nant, sixteen feet long, five feet wide
at its base, white field with a blue
Maltese cross at the ballard end. 1t
has absolutely no religious denomina-
tional significance. 1t is the only pen
nant or flag that is ever hoisted over
the American flag, and is done so to
signify that the men on that particu-
lar war vessel are at worship.
1t is perfectly easy to understand
how these religious agitators can take
fact such as this, with which the
people in general are unfamiliar, and
distort it to suit their end.
The imagination of writers who
contribute to these plague sheets, are
busy inventing stories that are paral-
lei with the tale this inconnu conjured
for the benefit of his listeners. Con-
tributed.