The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1943-07-15


a single group in national society
with the whole of that society. This
principle has launched Russia upon
an era of class conflict Second, it
equates society with the state. This
principle has destroyed the struc-
ture of democracy or at least the
democratic trend, in some important
countries, by abolishing free insti-
buttons and organized minorities.
Third, it equates the state with God.
The state makes demands upon hui
man personality which only God
has a right to make"
Contrast the basic American prin-
ciples of government with these to-
talitarian concepts. First, all men
are created equal before the law.
The American state recognizes no
individual as superior to any other
individual or group. This has
dampening effect on class hatreds,
religious jealousies and race con-
fiicts.
Second, government of the people,
by the people, and for the people,
as carried out in a representative
form, and by the rule of the ma
jority, encourages the growth and
development of free institutions and
permits organized minorities to ex-
list under the same conditions as
organized majorities.
Third, the complete separation of
church and state makes it possible
for every man to follow Christ's
teaching, Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesars, and to God
the things that are Gods" There is
no confusion Of allegiance, no tyran-
nical concentration of control over
men who were born to be free. The
American state derives its authority
| from the people. 1t makes no claim
to divinity through a religious as
ISOLATION. Consequently there is no
attempt on the part of one to
achieve its ends through the power
or influence of the other.
These contrasting principles make
clear the points at which we must
constantly be on guard to protect
our heritage of religious freedom
First, we must guard against the
domination of any one political par
/ ty by single religious group. In
the event that such combination
/ develops, and the political party in
question ultimately gets into power,
the danger to the freedom of re-
ligious worship will become acute.
Much will then be said about toler-
ance. But tolerance is not substi-
tute for true religious freedom that
will be long accepted by the Amer
lean people. The combination of
one religious group with the state
through political party will threat
en- the equality of other religious
groups before the law. No effort
should be spared to avoid such an
unhappy situation.
Second, we must guard against
the PRONUNCIATION of the totalitarian
principles of the union of church
and state. These principles hold
more than one danger to religious
freedom. Either by the state itself,
or by utilizing the organization of
one religious group to strengthen
! the power of the state, the adoption
of these principles will jeopardize
the right to worship according to
the dictates of conscience, through
the imposition of penalties and re-
strictions of mere tolerance, or by
the brutal cruelty of intolerance.
| Practical considerations of mod
ern times may dictate many changes
in our social structure. To be able
to make these needed changes as oc-
casion demands, is essential to the
health of the nation. But every
American must be on guard to see
that these changes do not violate the
very principles which make such
/ changes possible. One of the most
important of these principles is the
cherished American heritage of
/ freedom of religion worship.
If religious freedom is to be tri-
umphant in our republic, its spirit
must live within the constitutions
of all the component states. The
judge of every local court must be
imbued with it. And above all, no
one of us can afford to lose sight of
it as being one of the pillars upon
which our Nation is founded Our
belief in the freedom of conscience
is the very material of that struc-
ture.
The long train of sorrows that
have marked human history will not
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