The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-01-20
THE Cu,ncn AND THE STATE.


Tho general assembly Of Tennessee has before
it series OF drastic laws designed to rc-es-
tabllsh the sunday blue laws Of Puritan days.
How radical these measures are can best be
estimated by the explanation put forth by their
proponont who In described az u leading lay
member of church with wide notifications"
We quote In part
Too long have the people Of the earth
clunc to the fieshpots and their doom is
ascorcain ns that OF Tyre and Sodom Europe
Is the Sodom and America the Gomorrah,
and only the Immediate return to the puri-
taniCal religious precopts OF the witch burn
Ing days can save the earth from dcstruc-
ton.
Granting, for the purpose OF argument. all
that is here said, is It the contention OF the
proponent and supporters OF these measures
which We are informed are soon TO be laid be-
fore the congress for enactment, that the de-
sired reformation OF mankind has been accom-
pshcd by the enactment and rigid enforce
mcnt OF such laws?
II the answer be affirmation then why not
accomplish the supreme purpose at one stroke
by merely having congressional enactment
unequlvocally stating that from and after pass
age and approval II shall be unlawful for a man
tn go to the devil?
tho premise of tho first proposal be accepted,
then logic requires the second.
Possibly--nay probably-the good men urg-
ing the absurd legislation regarding the Sab
bath that they are urging In the namo OF tho
arucfied Christ ana risen Lord. do not under
stand they doing the cause OF Christianity
well-ngh irreparabe injury and sultfyng
Him whom they assume to represent, but they
are.
when the church becomes despotc and auto
cratic 1t becomes hateful only when A. lives
and breathcs tho spirit OF Christ and His king
dom does It's appeal reach out and take hold
Of the hearts of men, bringing about the re-
formation always individual and from withinD
which The Book itself teaches ls the way the
truth and the life"
Surely man supporting the blue-law Sab
bath will contend that by such legislative en-.
actment and enforcement the kingdom OF
christ has been advanced an iota. IL such Que
does, then he confesses the inadequncy II not
the positive fraud OF the Christian religion.
The gentlemen who are urging impossible
legislation are frankly seeking to override that
fundamental OF the constltuton--the separation
OF church and state. They are seeking to put
behind the of Christ the forms of Mann
mon. And we defy them to deny 1t while chal-
longing them to defend themselves against the
charge as best they may.
II 1t be possible to reform this wicked world
and bring it unto salvation" by man made laws.
what cruel travcsty It was; what scnselcss
work of supercroga ton, that tho son Of God
should have come TO earth suffered crucifiNion
the cross and the degradation of the tomb,
II such thing be possible (and on no other pos
sbo ground can the movement be iustifod)
then let us abolish instantly every church In
Chrlstcndom and wipe from our civilization the
last vestige of cantng and hypocritical priest
mood
But It. is the church representatives
church representatives who appeal from their
high brief to tho political arena--who err and
not the cause they lily represent Jesus said
u am the way, the truth and the life. Ne man
'ometh unto the father except by me" II Is
not recorded that he ever said, "Go get a law
through the counsel OF Pilot forcing these head
rrong people to do as ! say"
Cnquestionably tho Sabbath Is dcsecratcd
constantly; ana by protesting Christians quite
as much any others But the desired re-
formation TO justify itself at all must come
through the spirit OF Christ not the arbitrary
ani hypocritical laws Of man.