Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
TOLERANCE
nv WilIiam r. MGnning
dsishop 81 New York.

More than that OF any other man
except Lincoln. the spirit Of Jefferson
has embodied itself in the life Of
America His name stands for love
Of learning. for simplicity Of life, for
enmity to the spirit Of caste and class.
and snpreanely 1t stands against
tyranny in whatever form and for
confidence In the plain people.
Among all his great services none
was greater than the battle that ne
fought for religious freedom and for
complete separation OF church and
state. His name stands like q beacon
TO warn US against all forms OF bigo-
try, intolerance and discrimination
against men because of their Feligi
beliefs. The foolish charge that he
was Indifferent to religion Is refuted
both by his life and by his writings
His religious convictions were deep
and real, but he knew that prejudtct
and intolerance contradict the very
spirit OF religion. ,g
We need In these days to recall the
words which he wrote into the statute
OF Virginia for religious freedom, AZ
men shall be free to profess, and by
argument to maintain, their opinions
in matters Of religion, ana the same
shall in no wise diminish. enlarge or
affect their civil capacities.
#Ak
Let us rejoice that, In spite Of
some weird movements and rever
sions, the spirit Of intolerance and
prejudice is breaking down among Us
This does not mean that we are
q. H. Hoffh
weakening in our religious convic
tons. That would not be the way OF
progress 1t means an infinitely bet,
ter thing than that. 1t. means that
while holding our own faith strongly
and clearly, we are learning to re-
spect, to appreciate and to love those
whose faith differs from our own.
A true personal freedom must be
built not upon weak self-pleasing and
exaggerated individualiam, but upon
the foundation of duty. responsibilttl
and self.control. A true tolerance
does not spring from lack Of convic
ton, from indifference to morality
and truth, but from convictions held
deep and sacred with full respect FOL
the sincere convictions Of others.
1t is one of the marvels Of history
that eur Nation at IL birth shoult
have had such leaders as George
| washington and those associated
with him, and two such champions
of opposing though equally essential
principles as those cOntended for b.
Jefferson and Hamilton. The struggle
between these two great leaders, and
between the principles which they
| represented, was indispensable for thu
| fun development OF our national life
The contribution made by each Of
them should teach US forever thu
deep wisdom and the sound philc
sophie basis Of a true tolerance which
recognizes that in dealing with Az
| parently opposing principles Of hu
man life the truth Is to be found moi
In the rejection Of either, but in &C
Icepting and including the truth o.
both. This Is the light which Should
guide us in standing with our whole
strength for political, economic and
religious freedom.
| Akk
We glory In the Declaration Of In
dependence and In the Constitution
or our country, but there IL some
thing still higher and greater thar
these: Our free institutions res
upon the Bible and upon the truthi
declared In that Book.
Above the viii Of the people Is I'll,
VIII and the Law Of God, Who hal
made Himself known TO us in Hi
| Son Jesus Christ. In this faith OtiI
Nation has been created. -. 81
tcopyr4ght. 1880