The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-29
III CHURCH AND STATE
independent But Mutually Helpful
By Dr. JAMES E. TALMAGE
OF the Council of the Twelve Church of Christ of Lat
terDay Saints; Salt Lake City, Utah.
NOTE free copies other articles of this SERIES send
request to the author.
By DIR. JAMES E. TALMAGE

OF all citizens in the free exercise o
their religious belief; but we do no
bel1eye that they have a right in Jus
uce,to deprive citizens of this priv
! lege, or prescribe them in their opin
ions, so long as regard and rever
/ ence are shown to the laws, and sucl
religious opinions do not justify sedi
ton nor conspiracy.
/ IS. We believe that the commission
of crime should be punished according
to the nature of the offense; that muir
der, treason, robbery, theft, and the
/ breach Of the general peace, in all res
poets, should be punished according te
| their criminality, and their tendency
| to evil among men, by the laws of thai
! government in which the offense is
committed; and for the public peace
and tranquility all men should step for
ward and use their ability in bring ins
offenders against good laws to pun
! isiiment.
49, We do not believe it just to
mingle religious influence with civil
government, whereby one religious
society is fostered, and another pros
cribed in its spiritual privileges, and
the individual rights of it's members
as clLlZenS, QeQleQ.
"10.-We believe that all religious
societies have a right to deal with
their members for disorderly conduct
according to the rules and regulations
of such societies, provided that such
dealings be for fellowship and good
standing; but we do not believe that
any religious society has athority to
try men on the right of property or
life, to take from them this worlds
goods, or to put them in Jeopardy of
either life or limb, neither to inflict
any physical punishment upon them;
they can only e1eommunicate them
from their society and withdraw from
them their fellowship.
III. We believe that men should
appeal to the civil law for redress of
all wrongs and grievances, where per-
sonal cause is inflicted or the right of
property or character infringed, where
such laws exist as viii protect the
same; but we believe that all men are
justified in defending themselves,
their friends, and property, and the
government, from the unlawful as
saults and encroachments of ali per-
sons, in times of exigency, where i'm
mediate appeal cannot be made to the
laws, and relief afforded
IL. We believe it just to preach the
gospel to the nations of the earth, and
warn the righteous to save them
selves from the corruption of the
world; but we do not believe it right TO
interfere with bond servants, neither
preach the gospel to, nor baptize
hem contrary to the will and wish
Of their masters, nor to NEEDLE with !
Or influence them in the least, to !
cause them to be dissatisfied with |
heir situations in this life, thereby |
the lives of men; such in |
reference we believe to be unlawful |
and unjust, and dangerous to the +.
peace of every government allowing !
human beings to be held in servitude."
For the Book of Mormon, ETC., ap. /
ply to Northern States Mission, 255s
North Sawyer Ave, Chicago, III.
For book of $50 pp., containing
complete series of these articles,
numbering 1o4, entitled "Thc Vitality
OF Mormonism," apply to publishers:
The Gorham Press, Boston, Mass.