Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-02-02

BY MRS. CLARA r. WINTERTQN.

BY MRS. CLARA r. WINTERTQN.
The world is in the melting pot. In
America, as in other lands, great
changes are taking place. It is to be
regretted that in this great common
wealth, strong influences are at work
undermining fundamental principles,
the very principles which made it pos
sible for it to achieve its present
greatness. The idea Of church-and-
state union is again being insidiously
woven into the fabric of our state and
national governments Since 1863 an
organized influence has been at work,
constantly increasing in power, which
proposes to turn the nation back to
the Blue Laws which dominated the
Massachusetts,, Connecticut and Vir-
ginia colonies. They were all estab-
lished upon a theocratic basis the
ruling supposedly in Gods
stead, and the observance of the estab-
lished church being made obligatory
upon all persons dwelling within the
realm. This was carried to such an
extent that even the mere holding of
opinions was penalized, if those. opin-
ions did not harmonic with the creed
Of the established church. It mattered
not how clearly those opinions could
be proved from the word Of God, if
they were contrary to the creed, they
were dangerous heresies, and the more
easily they were proved, the more
dangerous they became to the estab-
lished church.
Now, several strong so-called re-
form organizations and more than a
score of so-called Christian churches
are clamoring for religious legisla-
ton. 1--WE must enact laws to reform
people from their lax views of moral
ity." We must establish civic right
eousness." s'We must put under the
ban of the law all those things that
would tend to lead men from religious
thoughts, SO that they can be made
righteous" These and other similar
expressions are being uttered from
pulpits in every part of the United
States to-day.
The idea of reforming men by law
is contradictory to the teachings of
the Bible, for says Paul in Galatians
1921, IF there had been a law given
which could have given life, verify
righteousness should have been by the
law. Those who profess to teach
that Word should govern their logic
BY that Word. Yet we quote from an
eminent divine, "This republic, to en-
dure must be moral republic. 1t car
only be SO through compelling the
citizens to be religious Shades Of
the Dark Ages! Echoes of the tor
Hture chambers! Where and when,
may, we ask, have men ever become
religious by being compelled? Men
can be persuaded and convinced by
friendly discussion and by education,
but persuasion and compulsion do not
go together. Jesus said: II, if / be
lifted up, will draw all men unto me. "
and this method of making men reli-
gious we would recommend to the blue
law advocates. The preacher who has
lost his power with God and his in
fiuence with his people, no longer able
to fiji his pews and therefore appeal
ing to the arm Of the law for aid,
should read from the Word he pro-
fesses to expound: Cursed be the
man that trusteth in man, and maketh
flesh his arm" Jer IT'D.
Religious laws, such as are sought
by the WOULD be reformers, put the
three Hebrews into the fiery furnace,
cast Daniel into den of lions, nailed
Jesus of Nazareth to the cross of
Calvary, cut off Paul's head, burned
John Huss at the stake, fed the fires
of Smithfield, established the Spanish
Inquisition, and ordered the massacre
of the Waldenses and Huguenots.
Are we Americans ready for such a
course?
Do we realize that these reform
ers y have succeeded in establishing
laws in all but two states of
the union? Are we aware of their
financial and numerical strength, and
their determination to make all these
laws more drastic? to establish q
drastic Sunday law in the District
Of Columbia and the states and other
territory where as yet they have none.
We have been surprised to learn
from newspaper reports that William
Jennings Bryan has agreed to cooper
ate with the national Sunday law
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