Evening star., 1948-01-05
Adventist View Set Forth

To the Editor Of Thu Star: -
The "Case for Religious Instruction" by John
F. Reilly in The Star Of December 20, regarding
an issue which arose in Champaign, Illinois,
over Mrs. Vashti McCollum's suit, as q free
thinker, to bar the teaching of religion during
school hours, was very interesting reading.
This case is being reviewed by the Supreme
Court And while lawyers argue, and judges
ponder, the court of public opinion dis
cusses the question pro and con. May this
reader enter the witness box to express an
opinion or two, in view Of Mr.. Reilly's brilliant
defense of his position, speaking as Catholic?
Since he expressed his religious afiliation I
shall state mine from the very beginning, SO
our stand on certain points may be under
stood. speak on this point as Seventh-Day
Adventist. ...
The founding fathers of our country, I'VE
the people OF the United States" bequeathed
to us an Incompatible Constitution ITO secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity" and in the same charter provided
that mo religious test shall ever be required
as qualification to any ONCE or pupnc
trust under the United States" This was a
paragraph of Article W. The Constitution
was hardly ratified by the ninth OF the origi-
nal Is States, in 1888. when Bill OF Rights
was found necessary and proposed in l789.
The very First Amendment to the Constitu-
ton was adopted to protect the rights OF
minorities, whoever they might be, to the ex-
tent that Congress shall make no law respect
Ing an establishment Of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right
Of the people peaceably to assemble, and TO
petition the Government for redress OF gr1ev-
ances."
Benefit of First Amendment.
Plainly, there were potent reasons for the
First Amendment to come into being thank
our original legislators for its existence. 1t
permits us to write letters to the editor, we
who are of differing views and religions, yet,
citizens of the same country, our own America.
It permits us to worship God or not to wor-
ship Him, as we freely choose. It permits us
to 20 to church on Friday, Saturday, or Sum
day, or any other day Of the week man may
call his day OF worship. And If government
gets too oppressive we have certain funda-
mental rights which permit us to ask Tor
redress of grievances" Of the proper governing,
legislative or judicial bodies.
Our Pilgrim Fathers fed from expressions
very drastic, too much of everything oppres-
sive during the Middle Ages. America became
the land of liberty, the cradle of freedom the
springboard into a new field of thought and ac-
tion-a Government "of the people, by the
people, for the people"
Just as a new community, vigorous and full
of pioneers, does not inquire too closely about
a mans past, provided he lives honorably IN
his new environment, justly so our original
legislators found that this same wise princi-
pie would work admirably in the field OF poll
tics, which was to be kept free from religious
viewpoints and vice versa. Absolute separa-
ton Of church and state became the new order
in America Nation without king, q church
without pope, all equal under the law He-
ligion as a test for office in government ceased
to be an issue in the United States OF Amer
ica Thus no man in legislative executive or
judicial position would be tempted to exer-
else religious dominion over his fellowmen.
Two New Commandments.
A great question regarding religion once
perplexed the people in the days OF Jesus
Christ, the Master. They observed the len
Commandments, at least outwardly But 81.
Matthew states the problem in this manner:
Then one Of them, which was lawyer, asked