The New York herald., 1922-03-25
CALLS CHURCH TO AID
Points Out Danger Of
Spread of Doctrine That
Laws Restrain Liberty.
FEAR OF INTOLERANCE
Tells Washington Bible Class
It's Growth Is a Menace to
Freedom We Cherish.

Freedom We Cherish.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-The church
can render no higher service at this
time than to put forth it's utmost in
fluence in behalf of frank and will
ing obedience to the law of the land. ?
President Harding declared tonight
In an address before the Bible Glass
of Calvary Baptist Church. The
Presidents address was made public
from the White House.
Without giving too much weight to
alarmist expressions. the President
said, I'VE must nevertheless recognize
that there is very apparent tendency
to lighter and moro frivolous view
of the citizens relations to both the
State and the church." If people who
are known as leaders, he added, be-
come known for their defiance of some
law, they need not be astonished if
their example is followed by others.
There Is no relationship here between
church and state" the President said
Religious liberty has its unalterable
place. along with civil and human lib
erty. in the very foundation OF the Re-
public. Therein is shown the farseeing
vision of the immortal founders, and we
are better people and better Repub-
lie because there is that freedom.
Menace OF Intolerance.
Il fear ii is forgotten sometimes. In
the experiences of a year in the Presi-
dency there has come to me no other
such unwelcome impression as the man
ifest religious intolerance which exists
among many of our citizens. / hold it
TO be a menace to the very liberties we
boast and cherish.
In spiteSof our complete enforcement
OF church and state, quite in harmony
with our religious freedom. there is an
important relationship between church
ana nation, because no nation can pros
per. no nation can survive, IL il ever
Iorgets almighty God, / have believed
that religious reverence has played a
very influential and helpful part in
matchless American achievements and /
wish 1t ever TO abide. II I were to utter
q prayer for the Republic tonight, it
would be to reconsecrate us in religious
devotion, and make us abidingly God
fearing. God loving people.
Il do not fail to recall that the re-
Hgious life makes for the simple life.
ana IL would be like a Divine benedic-
tion to restore the simpler life in this
republic.
There Is a good deal of loose talk
nowadays about the cause of the spirit
uai Generalization OF the community.
which 1t has become popular to at
tribute to the abnormal conditions that
were incident to the war. But, in fact
the war is not wholly to blame. Before
the war started or was dreamed of we
were already realizing the tendency to-
ward a certain moral laxity. a shifting
OF standards, a weakening of the sterner
fibers. l think we should do well to
recognize that intellectual and moral
evolution of the community. 1t would
be a grievous error to allow ourselves
10 feel too confident that this is only
a temporary and passing aspect.
LAW Sacred and Supreme.
"Take for example the matter OF re-
gard for the law. without giving too
much weight to alarmist expressions.
we must nevertheless recognize that
there is a very apparent tendency to a
lighter and more frivolous view of
the citizens relations to both the state
and the church. We can hardly hope
for restoration OF the old ideals in
religion and In moral conduct so long
as this tendency to disregard for the
law shall continue. 1T Is absolutely es-
sential to the maintenance of a secure
society Hnd to the attainment OF n
proper moral plane that the law should
be recognized as sacred and supreme.
1T should have at its back and en-
listed in its support every element OF
the community that realizes the dcsr-
ability of sound. secure and stable in
stitutions. Disregard OF one statute in
evitably must breed a lack Of respect
for the law in general This tendency
IS obvious. and ought to give the deep
est concern to people who have seen In
this world the fearful results that may
flow from the breakdown Of respect for
the social fundamentals
Whatever breeds disrespcct for the
law OF the land in anv particular
department OF our community relations
Is a force tending 10 the general break
down Of the social organization.
Appear TO Leaders.
''1f people Who are known az leaders
as directing Influences as thoroughly
respected ana respectable members CT
society. shall in their respective com
inunities become. known for their de-
fiancc Of some part OF the code OF
law, then they need not be astonished
II presently they find that their ex-
ample II followed by others. with the
result that presently the law In gem
cral comes to be looked upon as
set Of irksomc and unreasonable re-
straints upon the liberty OF the in
dividual our only safety VIII he IN
intoxicating an attitude Of respect for
tho law as on the whole the best
expression that has been given 10 the
social aspiration aud moral purpose Of
tho community.
Unless We can accomplish this In tho
domain Of citizenship and thereby sus-
tain enforcement, we may well feel that
the outlook Is not encouraging for the
achievement or those loftier spiritual
purposes 10 which the church Is de-
voted.
"The failures Or tho past invariably
have been preceded by contempt FOR
the law. by spiritual paralysis and
moral loosencss, al Of which had their
earlier reflex IA the weakened influ-
cnce Of the church. We know the help