Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-01
MOVE TO CHANGE
OFFICERS OATH
Covenanters Oppose Affirming
Constitution Which
Ignores Deity

movement has been started by the
Reformed Presbyterian Church Of the United
States better known the Covenanters to
have the young men of that denomination
who may qualify for commissions in tine
army take the oath now administered TO
privates, instead of the oath at present taken
by every officer who is sworn into Uncle
Sans army.
The only difference between the two is that
the officers IN addition to swearing to up
hold the Government of the United States
and obey the President and their superior
officers. also swear to uphold the Constitu-
tion of the United States.
The private soldiers. for some reason the
origin of which is lost in the mists of the
past, are not required to commit themselves
as to their attitude toward the Constitution.
Doesn't Recognize Constitution
The Reformed Presbyterian Church does
not recognize the Constitution. because that
document contains no reference to God and
makes no acknowledgment of Him as the
source of all authority in civil government.
Members of the Covenanters refuse to vote
in national elections and will not vote in the
State elections of any Commonwealth the
constitution of which does not contain what
they consider a fitting recognition of Gods
supreme authority.
This is the firm belief of the devout
members of the denomination. but they being
most earnest ana sincere patriots ana very
anxious to hack up the Government with
every means in their power and. furthermore
being far from having any pacifist tendencies
many of their young men sought TO be Of
fcers in the National Army. Many qualified
But there was a hitch when II came to taking
the oath
For. while the young men in their patriotic
enthusiasm. felt that the form of the oath
mattered little. their elders felt that it mat
tered a great deal. the Covenanters having
Itnh ht- hn thntt 1r IT,, tIn,, for
the same principle that is agitating them
now.
SO they have asked Congress to pass law
making it possible for man holding
religious convictions like or similar to their
own to become an officer of the American
army without swearing to uphold the Con-
sttuton.
An independent Sect
The eastern headquarters of the Cove
nanters Is Pittsburgh and the sect has about
$4,000 members all told scattered through
Pennsylvania and several western States 1t
has three churches in this city. Since leav-
ing Scotland and establishing itself in the
United States the Reformed Presbyterian
Church (Covenanters) has had no connec-
tion with the old-lne Presbyterian Church.
When the Covenanters came to getting
their measure through Congress they met
little encouragement. understanding SYM
pathy. either from their Representatives or
Senator's The impression got abroad that
they wanted the present officers oath abol-
ished for every one and the present oath for
privates substituted Such suggestion was
resented by the War Department.
The bill urged by the Covcnanters was
presented by Congressman Guy F. Campbell,
of Allegheny County (the Pittsburgh dis
tric). who said he did so by request" When
a Congressman or Senator states that lie puts
in a bill by request" it is understood
thing that he does not stand sponsor for the
measure.
Friends and hackers of the measure have
not yet been able to make clear to Congress
the exact object of the bill. and their failure
to do has probably killed it, for this Con-
gress at any rate. They have showered
petitions on individual members of Congress-
but only in printed form, without any ex-
PLANTATION of the motives back of their desire
to have it passed.
Referred to Committee
Both the bill itself and the petitions have
been referred TO the House Military Affairs
Committee. The preamble Of the bill states
that. whereas, the Constitution of the
United States contains no acknowledgment
of Almighty God the source of all au-
thority in civil government. nor OF the Lord
Jesus Christ as the saviour and ruler of
nations. of His revealed will as the SUI
preme standard for deciding moral questions
in national life" going on to state that the
Covenanters have always held that the prin-
ciples outlined above are Of such Importance
that they have refused to support any con-
stitutlon that did not contain them. but that
they are loyal to the United states and willing
to make all sacrifices for their country's well
fare. so they beg Congress will enact that
During the present the President he
authorized to issue commissions for the
military and naval service of the United
States to those who may qualify. but who
dissent from the Constitution of the United
States solely on account of its omission Of
religious acknowledgements, upon their taking
the oath now prescribed for enlisted men,
and second. that the same option shall be
allowed for the same reason in cases where
the oath is required as a test of loyalty"