Arizona republican., 1922-03-25
PRESIDENT URGES
FRANK OBEDIENCE
TO LA US OF LAND
rRepubIIean a. p. leased wIre1

WASHINGTON, March 24.-"The
church can render no higher service
at this time than 10 put forth its ut
most influence in behalf Of frank and
willing obedience to the law of the
land" President Harding declared to-
night in an address before the Bible
class of Calvary Baptist church. No
newspaper correspondents were adj
mitted to the church, but the presi-
dents address was made public from
the White House.
Without giving too much weight
to alarmist expressions, the president
said, I'VE must nevertheless recog-
nize that there is a very apparent
tendency to lighter and more friv-
olous view of the citizens relations
to both the state and the church"
II people who are known as leaders,
he added, become known for their de-
fiance of some law, they need not be
astonished il their example is fol-
lowed by others.
At another point Mr. Harding dis
cussed the loose talk nowadays
about the spiritual decentralization
of the community and declared that
it could not be laid entirely to the
war but to a tendency before that
period toward "a certain moral lax
ity. a shifting of standards, weak
ening OF the sterner fibers" In his
experiences OF a year in the White
House, he said. there has come to
me no other such unwelcome impress
sion as the manifest religious intol-
erance which exists among many of
our citizens"
Il hold it to be menace to the
very liberties we boast and cherish, .
he asserted.
Declaring his belief IN the part
which religious reverence has played
in American achievement, the prest-
dent added:
IF were to utter prayer for this
republic tonight. it would be 10 re-
consecrate us in religious devotion
and make US abidingly God-fearing,
God loving people"
There is no relationship here be-
tween church and state" the presi =
dent said. Religious liberty has its
unalterable place, along with civil
and human liberty, in the very foun.
dation of the republic. Therein is
shown a far-seeing vision of the i'm
mortal founders, and we are a better
people and a better republic be-
cause there is that freedom.
II fear it is forgotten sometimes.
In the experiences OF a year in the
presidency there has come to me no
other such unwelcome impression as
the manifest religious intolerance
which exists among many of our
citizens
Nation Must Remember God
TN spite of our complete divorce
ment of church and state, quite in
harmony with our religious freedom,
there is an important relationship be-
tween church ard nation, because no
nation can prosper, no nation can
survive, If it ever forgets Almighty
God. have believed that religious
reverence has played a very influen-
tial and helpful part in the matchless
American achievement, and / wish
it ever to abide.
1T do not fail to recall that the
religious life makes for the simple
life, and it would be like a divine
benediction to restore the simpler life
in this republic.
There is a good deal OF loose talk
nowadays about the cause of the
spiritual decentralization OF the COM
munity. which it has become popular
to attribute to the abnormal condi-
tons that were incident TO the war
But in fact the war is not wholly tc
blame Before the war started OF
was dreamed of. we were already
realizing the tendency toward GER
tain moral laxity, a shifting of stand
ards, q weakening OF the sternel
| fibers. I think we should do well tC
recognize that intellectual and mora
evolution of the community. 1t would
! be a greviouS error to allow our
selves TO feel too confident that this
is only a temporary and passing as
| pect.
"Take for example the matter o.
regard for the law. Without givins
too much weight to alarmist express
Sions. we must nevertheless recog-
niZe that there is a very apparent
| tendency to a lighter and a more
! frivolous view of the citizens rela.
tons to both the state and the church
We can hardly hope for a restoration
! Of the old ideals in religion and II
moral conduct, so long as this ten
dency TO disregard for the law shal
| continue. II is absolutely essentia
| 10 the maintenance of secure so
ciety and to the attainment OF ;
proper moral plane. that the law
| should be recognized as sacred am
supreme. II should have at its back
and enlisted in its support, every ele
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