The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-09
Baptists and the Moral Power.
(Cincinnati Enquirer. )

Attention of the departments of Protestant demoninatonalism is called to state ments made in a powerful editorial recently ap- bearing in The Baptist Chicago.
 It is pertinent to call the attention of Gin cnati church people to these statements since the Baptsts of the Miami Association are this week in session in this city.
 The editorial in the paper referred to places the Baptist Church firmly and irrevocably on the solid rock of patriotic Americanism.
 The writer says that Baptists recognize the State legitimate institution of society. They observe that the State and the church being institutions existing side by side in the same community, do have points of contact and come into relations that require definite adjust ment They say that the State is subject to moral obligations and that the process of civil government ought to conform to principles of human right They have the right to testify against great wrong within the sphere of govern memt and 10 urge thai such wrong be lighted zenship
 And this clear and ringing statement of American attitude with respect to fundamental guaranty of the constitutions
 What is government? It is
 tiay the organization of the
 ity a whole for the promotion of the
 common good, having the power of com
 pulson far may be necessary to
 that end. That kind of an institution
 Baptist Church can never be, and
 
 not consistently look to the State for
 support or aid It cannot elect ap-
 point civil rulers. It cannot enact laws t for the civil community. It cannot par .,,ss ticipate in war. 1t cannot permit the
 State to interfere with it's faith, fellow
 ship, worship. organization, teaching and
 discipline These of the prac-
 tcal implication of the Batpst slogan.
 "the separation of church and State.'
 If Baptiss do any of these things they
 violate Baptist principles
 But between the State civil
 community and the church as spiritual
 brotherhood the difference in genius and
 method is so broad that neither in-
 wade the province of the other without corruptng both. No Baptist without
 treason to the principles and history of
 the Baptist movement, consent to
 lower the banner of the separation of
 church and State. This banner still rep
 resents a part of the contribution that
 Baptsts have to make to the civilization
 of mankind. That they have present
 monopoly of this principle is gladly
 ceded That many Protesants have for
 ever abandoned the union of church and
 State we firmly and happily believe. But the principal implications of the separa-
 ton of church and State yet to be
 wrought out in a hundred directions in which the training of Baptists ought to
 make them pioneers.
 This is American doctrine. It is what The Enquirer has preached in and oue of sea son. It defines the foundation upon which the structure of this Government rests. It is good to have clear and unequvoca an expression from great Christian denomination. It should be heralded far and wide. It should be distributed among the denomnational lobbyists at Washing ton and the various State capitals. It should be read in the churches and in the schools