The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-05

Washington-If Warren G. Harding
is elected over James NJ Cox in No
vember ne viii be the first member
Of IN Baptist church TO become
president of the United States.
If James NJ. Cox receives plural
ity in the electoral college he will be
the ninth Episcopalian 10 become pres
ident.
In a letter to 'The Boston Traveller
James c. Duncan OF Clinton, Mass
calls attention to the fact that no
matter hcw the November elections re-
suit tie Epscopanans Will continue
70 havv @ plurality in the electoral
college Eight Ep.scopalians have been
president. as against six Unitarians,
six Presbyterians. four Methodists two
Reformed formerly known as Reform
e. Dutch, and one member Of the
Disciples of Christ.
In chronological order Washington
was an Episcopalian ana John Adams
4 Unitarian jefferson is vaguely
classified as o liberal Nj Duncan
explains that "Jefferson's liberalism in
religious belief was part Of his
Democracy While he attended the
Episcopal church in the neighborhood
O. his home, sometimes joining in its
communion, ne was, nevertheless. intel
lsctualy a pronounced Unitarian. He
definitely takes his stand for Unitar-
ianism in no one sees with greater
pleasure than myself tine progress Of
reason in its advance toward rational
Christianity. When we shall have done
away with the incomprehensib'e
jargcn Of the Trinitarian arithmetic
that three are one. and one are three;
when we shall have knocked down the
superficial structure Of Jesus when,
in short we have unlearned every.
thing taught since His day. and got
back to the pure and simple doc.
trines He incu'cated we shall then be
truly and worthily His disciples
Again. in letter written in 1922,
he says I hope that there is not a
young man now living who will not
die Unitarian
incidentally il was Jefferson who
took the stand that guaranteed the
right of every man ~ define his re.
ligion for himself in. that when the
Virginia act establishing religious free.
dom, which begins. Whereas Al
mighty God hath ,crea,ed the mind
free" and goes on : 10 assert that the
Holy Author Of OUT religion ordains
that religion shall be free, was sub.
JecI to an amendment TO insert the
name of Jesus Christ as the Author
Of our religion, Jefferson refused 10
accept the amendment. To him the
Jew or the Moiammedan had equal
rights in the state, and the state
acknowledged the right of every man
TO define his religion for himself"
Following Jefferson. came two Epis.
copalians Madison and Monroe. then
John Quincy Adams- Unitarian. and
after him the first Of the six Pres.
oyterians, Jackson. In order there
followed Van Buren,, Reformed: vii.
lam Henry Harrison and Tyler. Epis.
copalians Polk. Presbyterian; Taylor.
Episcopalian Fillmore. Unitarian
Pierce, Episcoralian; and Buchanan.
Presbyterian.
S--~-es4 4lNA " SOlut SldLlS-
ticians Mr.. Duncan points out. to the
Presoytertans because he occasionally
attended their church although he was
not member. He thinks the Unitar
ians have greater claim on him. and
quotes from Francis Carpenters six
months at the. White House with Alb.
raham Lincoln with reference TO
the religious belief Of the great war
president Nh. Carpenter says:
Inc conversation turned upon re.
lglous subjects, and Mr. Lincoln made
tnls impressive remark:
have never United myself TO
any chutch, because l nave found
difficulty iu giving my assent. with.
cut mental reservation, to the long
complicated statements Of Christian
doctrine which characterize their ArtI.
c.ss OF Belief and Confessions Of Faith
When any church will inscribe over its
si'ar as 'ts sole qualification for mem.