Year: 1864

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On one question only differ from him,
and it is that which constitutes the subject
of his first discussing public affairs in the
pulpit. add the last words. because ad-
NIT the right in general conversation and
in writing, in which last form it has been
exercised In the admirable book you have
now favored me with.


The mass Of human concerns, moral and
physical, is 80 vast, the field of knowledge
requisite for man to conduct them to the
best advantage is 80 extensive. that no
human being can acquire the whole himself,
and much less the degree necessary tor the
instruction of others. 1t has of necessity
then, been distributed into different depart
ments. each of which, singly. may give Oc-
cupatiOn enough to the whole time and at
tention of a single individual. Thus we
have teachers of Languages, teachers OF
Mathematics, of Natural Philosophy, Of
Chemistry, of Medicine, of Law. of History,
of Government, &c. Religion, too, is
separate department, and happens to be the
only one deemed requisite forall men. how
ever high or low. Collections of men as
sociate together, under the name of associa-
tions, and employ religious teacher of the
particular sect or opinion Of which they
happen to be, and contribute to make up a





delivering them. at such periods as they
agree on. lessons in the religion they profess.
If they want Instructions in other sciences
or arts, they apply to other instructors, and
this Is generally the business of early life.
But suppose there is not a single instance
of a congregation which has employed their
preacher for mixed purpose of lecturing
them from the pulpit, in chemistry. In medi-
cine, in the science and principles of Gov
eminent, or In anything but religion ex-
clusively.


Whenever. therefore. preachers, instead
of lesson of religion. put them of with
discourse on the Copernican system. on
chemical affnities. on the constructions OF :
Government or the character of those ad-
ministering it. 1t is a breach of contract,
depriving their audience of the kind of
service for which they are salaried; and
giving them instead of it. what they did
not want, or if wanted, would rather seek
from better sources in that particular art
or science. In choosing our pastor we look
to his religious qualifications, without in
quiring into his physical or political dog
mas with which we mean to have nothing
to do. am aware that arguments may be
found, which may twist thread OF politics
into the cord of religious duties. So they
may tor every other branch of human art
Ut SCicUCe. mus, lot eAdlllplt, IL II q IT,
ligious duty to obey the laws of our cOun-
try; the teacher of religion, therefore, must
instruct us in those laws that we may know
how to obey them. 1t is a religious duty
to assist our sick neighbors; the preacher
must, therefore, teach us medicine that we
may do it Understandings; it is a religious
duty to preserve our health; our teacher,
then, must tell us what dishes are whole
some, and give receipts for cookery. that
we may learn how to prepare them. And
so ingenuity, by generalizing more aud
more, may amalgamate all the branches of
science into one of them, and the physician
who is paid to visit the sick, may give
sermon instead of medicine; and the mer-
chant to whom money is sent for hat,
may send handkerchief instead of it. But
notwithstanding this possible confusion of
all sciences into one. common sense draws
lines between them sufficiently distinct for
the general purposes oflife, and no one is at a
loss to understand that recipe in medicine
for cookery, ora demonstration in geometry.
is not "A lesson in religion. lido notdeny that
congregation may, if they please, agree
with their preacher that he shall instruct
them in medicine also, or law, or politics.
Then, lectures in these. from the pulpit, be-
come not only matter of right, but of du-
ty also. But this must be with the consent
Of every individual; because the asSocia-
ton b, ing voluntary. the mere majority has
no right to apply the contributions of the
minority to purposes unspecitied in the
agreement Of the congregation.


Very sincerely,


THOMAS JEFFERSON.