The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-07
BATHING AT ALTAR OF PATRIOTISM

written by Thomas Jefferson, who in his day was called an aghostic, but who, if he were living now, would probably be denomi- mated nodernist. He was ap Episcopal ves- trymans yet he eliminated from the four sos. pels all the miracles recountsd in them and put them together chronoiogically. He was perhaps the father of modern religious doubt Eers. The document was signed by, among others, James; Witherspoon, 6 Presbyterian, president of Nassdu Hall, now Princeton University. It was also signed by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the leading Roman Catholic layman of bis. day. .ss
 Religious viewsahad no place in the civil outlook of the fathers of the republic They knew that nothing would destroy the re-. public quicker than the injection into the government they were founding sof religious or racial prejudices. They knew that the Roman empire flourished because it had sense enough to demand only civil obedince from it's provinces. That empire cared nothing about the religious views of those it conQuered Gallio, upon hearing the defense of the Aros- tie Paul, declared that he cared for none of these things. The founders of the republic knew that John Calvin burned Servetus at the stake because church and state were united in Geneva. Servetus was more of traitor to the state than heretic to the church. So they separated church and state
  good citizens to keep them separate.
 Even those countries in which church and state are united have found 1t necessary in order to promote peace to put into practical operation the separation principle of the American Gonstitution. The acute sensibility of man in regard to his faith has brought changes. To illustrate: The British govern ment in the sos of the last century issued new rifles to the Indian troops. It was nec- essary to bite the cartridges. These were coated with a, grease of some kind This led the troops to believe that their religion was being deliberately insulted by the British government. To prevent a mutiny, Great Britain found it necessary not only to let the Indian troops grease, their own car tridges, but to affirm the doctriHe of re- ligious ibertygs This was done in the fol- lowing proclamation of Queen Victoria to the princes, chiefs and people of India (pub- lished November 1, 1858):
 ,.Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christianity, and acknowledging with. grat- itude the solace of Religion, we disclaim alike the right and the desire to impose our convictions on any of our subjects. We de-s clare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in any wise favored, none mo- tested or disquieted by reason of their re- ligious faith or obseryances; but that all shall alike enjoy the equal and Impartial protection of the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority under us, that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects. on pain of our highest displeasure. ~s.s.z5
 And 1t is our farther will that, So far as may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of, which they may be qualified by their education, ability and integrity, duly to discharge"
 We Americans can well read a lesson in history. Let us get back to the Constitution and vote for or against men as we believe them competent to hold office, not on ac- count of either race or religion.