The Penn's Grove record., 1916-02-11

raised by Borough school tax.
ments to be given by divine inspiration"
New Jersey, by the Constitution of
1875, declared, ''That all persons profess
sing a belief in the faith of the Protest
ant sect, who shall demean themselves
peaceably under the government as here
by established shall be capable of being
elected into any Office of profit or trust,
or being a member of either branch of
the Legislature"
This Constitution remained in force
until 1914, when the one under which
we now live was enacted. Amendments
have been made thereto. The preamble
re.lS:
"We, the people of the State of New
Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the
civil and religious liberty which He hath
so long permitted us to enjoy, and look
ing to Him for a blessing upon our
endeayors to secure and transmit the
same unimpaired to succeeding genera
tions, do ordain and establish this Con-
stitution."
Among the rights and privileges con-
coded are these:
There shall be no establishment of
one religious sect in preference to an
other no religious test shall be required
as a qualification for any office or public
trust; and no person shall be denied the
enjoyment of any civil right merely on
account of his religious principles"
That word, religious test" undoubted-
ly means a sectarian test. The idea was
to eliminate the restriction of Office
holding to Protestants and to permit
Roman Catholics and Jews to hold of
fee. There were few in the State in
1874. Because, before a person shall
qualify for Office an oath must be taken
from the Governor down to the pound
keeper. In the oath is a declaration of
allegiance to the State government and
to perform the duties of the Office ac-
cording to law (not according to the
wishes and opinion of the oficial). Il
do solemnly promise and swear. So help
me God"
The Quaker is allowed to take an
oath, Il do solemnly declare and affirm,
in the presence of Almighty God"
Every person who does not allege himself
to be conscientiously scrupulous of TAX
ing an oath, must be sworn and not
affirm.
The form of the administration of the
oath is that of the old Scotch covenant
ers. 1t has been decided in Supreme
Court cases that all oaths must be ad-
ministered by laying the right hand on
the Holy Bible or by uplifted hand. The
oath is a religious act by which the party
invOkes God not only to witness the truth
and sincerity of his promise, but also to
avenge his imposture or violated faith
or, to punish his perjury, if he shall be
guilty of it.
President Jackson belonged to the Pres
byterian Church which had its origin
with the Covenauters in Scotland who
entered into a "Solemn League and Cow
enant for the Reformation aud defense Of
Religion, in doctrine, worship, discipline
me government according to the word of
God" The oath required to be taken by
every official in New Jersey, unless he
expresses a conscientious scruples like
the Quakers who are allowed to affirm or
declare, is the same form as used by the
old Scotch Covenanters, except that the
Bible is not open.
The civil law Furnishes perjury by fine
and Imprisonment.
1t will be seen that the very founda-
tlOn OF our organized government anu
the right to hold Office is based upon the
religion of the Bible.
The question arises, can a man who
does not acknowledge the solemn obliga-
ton of the oath of office and the moral
obligations of the Bible, legally hold Of
fee? What is his word worth as a wit
ness in the courts?
While there is a separation of the
I State from the official organization of
any sectarian church, yet the founda-
mental principles of Christianity con-
tinue to be engrafted into the laws of the
land as put there when there was a IN
ion of Church and State.
While the dogmas or creeds of any
religion m be taught in the public
schools the religious principles enacted
into civil laws should be taught so far
as such are required for good citizenship.
The origin and sanctity of the oath
which is the foundation of the courts of
Justice and the oath of Office and the
penalties, not only of civil law but the
punishment decreed by the moral law,
should be a part of the study in all pub
lie schools. That is, the ways of the
transgressor is hard in this would as in
the next.