San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
n. DEESA ABORA.
this NATION UNDER GOD"
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
Abraham Lincoln more than once
referred to our great country as "this
nation under God" thus implicitly
stating that religion is of the bedrock
upon which Americanism stands. If
an American is asked whether the
United States is a religious nation, he
may unhesitatingly answer that it is.
For although there is in this country
no union between church and state,
yet throughout our history there is
an honest recognition of God as the
ruler of nations. and deep respect for
supernatural religion. This may be
proven in two ways, and from the liv-
ing customs and manners of the peO-
pie. Let me present some OF the legal
proofs today; and l shall examine the
living testimony in future paper.
These facts are cited almost entire
ly from n decision of the United States
Supreme Court holy Trinit.. Church
VS.. y. s. 143 L. S. 45O.
Columbus sailed westward under a
commission from Ferdinand and 1sa-
bella, by the grace of God, and of
their most Christian Majesties." The
first charter of Virginia. granted in
1906 by King James |, recites that the
work of the Colonists may be the
province of Almighty God. hereafter
lead to the glory of His Divine Ma
jesty in propagating of Christian re-
ligions." The later charters of Vir-
ginia, granted by the same king in
1909 and 1911, and the charters of
the other colonies also declare that
"the establishment of the Christian re-
ligion" is one of the purposes of the
grant. In 1920 the Pilgrims on the
Mayflower declared by their celebrated
compact that they undertook the voy-
age "for the glory of God and the adj
vancement of the Christian faith"
Maryland was in 1852 founded by a
grant from Charles ii as a Christian
colony. in which all forms Of Christian
worship enjoyed the fullest liberation.
The charter of William Penn in 1701
guaranteed freedom of conscience in
the province of Pennsylvania. Finally
the Declaration of Independence was
not only a throwing off of foreign
domination but a recognition of the
supreme domination of God, for it
contained the memorable words, zap
pealing to the Supreme Judge OF the
world for the rectitude of our inten-
tions," and then, "for the support of
this declaration, with firm reli-
ance on the protection OF Divine Prov
idence, we mutually pledge TO each
other our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honor"
Besides, the people OF every one OF
the forty-eight states have put into
their constitutions in one way or an
other language recognizing a profound
reverence for religion and an assump-
ton that its influence in all human
affairs is essential to the well being of
the community. Thus the preamble
of the Illinois Constitution, grateful
to the Almighty God for the civil po-
litical and religious liberty which He
hath so long permitted US to enjoy"
The Indiana constitution Of 1916, ar
ticle TX. section 4, provides that an
oath duly administered shall be
esteemed the most solemn appeal to
God" The constitution of Maryland,
1867, recites, "that as it is the duty
of every man to worship God in such
manner as he thinks most acceptable
to him, all persons are equally en-
titled to protection in their religious
liberty" In one. form or another, the
recognition of God and of religion APP
pears in the constitution Of each in
dividual state. The constitution of
the United States protects religion by
declaring in the first amendment that
Congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment of religion or pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof"
Finally, the Supreme Court of the
United States, in the decision from
which l have been citing. reviewed
the historical evidence and expressly
held that mo purpose of action
against religion can be imputed to any
legislation. state or national, because
this is a Christian nation"
In these days which have uncovered
80 much bitterness against religion,
especially those that have Christian
education in their schools. 1t is good