The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-09
C0mpulsion Has No Part in Clrist's Re
ligiOn

Editor of The Reformer:
Compulsion has neither part nor lot i'm
the religious system established by our
Saviour. The state has no more right to
dictate 10 its citizens what they shall do
with one seventh of their time than what
they shall do with one tenth of their in
come. Compulsory Sabbath observance
and compulsory 1.-THE paying are on a
par: grant the state the right to apprO-
pirate one seventh of n mans time. and
you acknowledge its right to appropriate
one tenth of his income. Civil government
has enforced tithc-paying in its citizens.
and, like Sunday observance. the results
have been disastrous.
When religious obServanccs and relig-
lGu> Obligations are made compulsory. the
consequence invariably has not been bene-
fetal to either the individual. the state.
or the church. The purest Christianity
exists in. the land where no union of
church and state Is found. and where re-
hglon and religious ceremonies and obi
cations are left altogether to the CON
science of the individual. In Scotland.
where Sunday laws were most vigorously
enforced, the immortality Of the people was
marked. one does not look to Russia to
Spain. nor even to the New England col
0ncs, for ideal Christianity. CompulSion
was, and in Russia. Spain and Austria
ami other countries still is. TeSorted to in
matters religious, Says Noel
But what is the actual state of the
establishment? Myriads of its members
have nothing of Christianity but the
name. received in infancy by baptism. and
retained without one spontaneous act of
their own: and millions do nothing what
ever to promote the cause of Christ. "
Church and State. pages 800. 400.
The enactment and enforcement of sun
day laws are dangerous because of what
they will finally lead to. Their enactment
and enforcement are the first steps toward
a - 4
te>ttile$ that such union has alWatS
been disastrous to both the church and the
state. History repeats Itself, and like
causes bring like results
When our f0refather founded this gov
eminent. the sad history of religious Iceis-
laticn in Rome and during colonial days
IN this country warned them to place in
the constitution Il safeguard against re
ligiouS tyranny.
In the United States. YES. in every coun-
try in the world, were Sunday laws abro-
gated and religious ubsPrvauces entirely
erased from the statute books. there
would be such a revival OF genuine Chris
tlanlty aS to make angels i'm heaven re
J0Ice. and cause the heart of men to turn
u God. tarnal weapons are = hindrance
to God and religion; the sword of the
spirit. the Word of God. in the hands of
believers mot III the hands of police OIL
cerSt. will cleave its way to the hearts of
men. Sin will be destroyed, and Christ
viii conquer.
individuality is the spirit of Christ :
religion, as blind conformity is the spirit
OF raganiSm. The churches of Christ are
societies Of believers. who think. will, and
act for themselves, in obedience to Christ.
a. pagan communities are human herds,
who arc packed together by church laws
and by state laws, as the potentate and
priest may determine
Keep the church and the state i'm every
way forever separate; leave religion and
religious observances to the individual
conscience. and both the church and the
state viii prosper. and God will be glori-
fed.
Very respectfully yours.
LENA G. CHASE.
BrattIeboro. Feb. :.