Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-25
HARDING RAPS
D|SOBED|ENCE
AND FANATICS
Calls for More Respect
for Law; Scores Religi-
Gus Intolerance.
Wants Church to Bring
About Godlier and
Reverent Spirit in u. S.

Washington, March o4.-The church
can render 10 higher service at this
time than to put forth its utmost influ-
ence in behalf of frank and willing
obedience to the law of the land Pres
idcnt Harding declared Friday night. in
and address before the Bible class of
Calvary Baptist church. No newspaper
correspondents were admitted to the
church. but the presidents address was
made public from the White House
Declaring his belief in the part which
religious reverence has played in Amer
ican achievement, the president added:
''If l were to utter prayer for this
republic tonight. it would be to re-
consecratc us in religious devotion and
make us abidingly God-fearing, God
loving people"
Shocked by Intolerance
There is no relationship here be-
tween church and state" the president
said. Religious liberty has its unal-
terable place, along with civil and hu-
man liberty, in the very foundations of
the republic Therein is shown the
farseeng vision Of the immoral found
ers. and we are better people and a
better republic because there is that
freedom. ssSa sssiae
'.I 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 aong many of our citizens.
Simple Life involved
'1n Snite of our complete divorce
ment of church and state, quite in
harmony with our religious freedom.
there is an important relationship be-
tween church and nation, because no
nation can prosper. no nation can sur
vive if it ever forgets Almighty God.
] have believed that religious reverence
has played very influential and help
full part in the matchless American
achievement. and / wish it ever to
abide.
81 do not fail to recall that the re-
ligious life makes for the simple life,
and it would be like divine benedic-
ton to restore the simpler life in this
republic.
War Not Prime Cause
There is a good deal of loose talk |
nowadays about the cause of the spirit |
ual decentralization of the community, |
which it has become popular to attrib |
ute to the abnoraml 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 certain moral laxity. shifting |
of standards. a weakening of the sterner |
fibers. / think we should do well to /
recognize that intellectual and moral |
evolution Of the community. 1t would |
be a grievous error to allow ourselves |
to feel too confident that this is only |
temporary and passing aspect.
Frivolous Regard for Law
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 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
Jaw shall continue. 1t is absolutely
essential to the maintenance of secure
society and to the attainment of a
proper moral plane. that the laws
should b" recognized as sacred and su-
preme. 1t should have at its back, and
enlisted in its support. every clement Of
the community that realizes the desir-
ability of sound, secure and stable insti-
tutions Disregard of one statute inc
v!tably must breed lack of respect
is obvious, and ought to give the deep
est concern to people who have seen,
III this world, the fearful results that
may flow from the breakdown of re-
spect for the social fundamentals.
Disrespect Breeders Real Peril
Whatever breeds disrespect for
the law Of the land, in any particular
department of our community rcla-
tions, is force tending to the general
breakdown of the social organization
If people who are known as leaders,
as directing influences, as thoroughly
respected and respectable members Of
society. shall in their respective
communities become known for their
defiance of some part of the code Of
law, then they need not be astonished
If presently the! find that their ex-
ample is followed by others, with the
result that presently the law in gen.
eral comes to be looked upon as set
Of irksome and unreasonable restraint
upon the liberty Of the individual
Only Safety In Firm Spirit
"Our only safety will be in
c,llcating an attitude of respect for
the law. as on the whole the best
expression that has been given to the
social aspiration and moral purpose ,
Of the community.
(Contffued on Paxo Elcyen) ]