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"A Soldier and a Christian”

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NDER this heading, the following was copied by the Columbian (R. C.) from the Sacred Heart Review, another Catholic paper. It is reproduced here because it describes the attitude toward civil government of all men who have decided religious convictions:

It is related of a brave French general that he always received Holy Communion in full uniform, at Easter. 'I have two duties to perform, that of a soldier and that of a Christian,' he often said. 'I am always ready, when reessary, to give my blood, but never to sacifice my soul.'"

By sacrificing his soul this general meant, of course, violating his conscienious convictions, and thus placing his soul in jeopardy of being eternally lost. He was ready to give his life at any time. his country might require such a sacrifice, but not to violate his sense of religious obligation.

And this, we say, is and always has been the attitude, not alone of the heartlt Christian, whether Catholic or Protestant, but the attitude of sincere religionists of every school, pagan, Mohammedan, and Christian. Only the utilitarian, whose morality has no better foundation than "Honesty is the best policy," is able to trim his sails to every passing breeze, to adjust his conscience to his environment, and to square his life by public opinion instead of by that which he esteems divine law. The man who has a religion worth anything to him, a religion that is a power in his life, must be true to his honest convictions, even at the cost of earthly existence itself.

Of course, the convictions of men vary widely. One may feel that when he has observed certain forms, or participated in a prescribed ritual, his personal duty toward God is done, and that he can then leave all else to the government, or to his superiors in command; while another cannot do this, he feels that in

things moral he is individually responsible to God and not to man. He may agree with one of our American poets who expressed the thought thus quaintly in the colloquial speech of rural New England of seventy years or more ago:

""Taint your eppyletts an' feathers

Make the thing a grain more right; "Taint a-follerin' your bellwethers Will excuse you in His sight;

"Ef you take a sword and dror it, And go stick a feller thru', Guv'ment ain't to answer for it,

God'll send the bill to you."

Conscience is a plant of tender growth. The individual may stifle it; false systems of religion may misdirect it; and despotic power may override it; but no government can afford thus to array itself against the bulwark of real manhood. In the words of Fairchild's "Moral Science: "

"Conscientious men are not the enemies, but the friends of any government but a tyranny. They are its strength, and not its weakness. Daniel, in Babylon, praying, contrary to the law, was the true friend and supporter of the government; while those who, in their pretended zeal for the law and the constitution, would strike down the good man, were its real enemies. It is only when government transcends its sphere, that it comes in conflict with the consciences of men."

No man who has a tender conscience, responsive to the law of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, will be found sneering at the convictions of his fellow man, however much he may differ from him in judgment.

慌慌

B.

IN America, we say in theory to every citizen that he may worship God as he elects, or not worship at all; but in practice we try by law to make him worship as we do. If he does not worship as we do, we think he is ready for the asylum or the prison cell.

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MONTICELLO-HOME OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
"AMERICANISM-WHAT IS IT? "
WHAT IS IT?" Page 76

TWENTY CENTS A COPY

WASHINGTON, D. C.

Religious Liberty Association

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

1. We believe in God, in the Bible as the word of God, and in the separation of church and state as taught by Jesus Christ.

2. We believe that the ten commandments are the law of God, and that they comprehend man's whole duty to God and man.

3. We believe that the religion of Jesus Christ is founded in the law of love of God, and needs no human power to support or enforce it. Love cannot be forced.

4. We believe in civil government as divinely ordained to protect men in the enjoyment of their natural rights and to rule in civil things, and that in this realm it is entitled to the respectful obedience of all.

5. We believe it is the right, and should be the privilege, of every individual to worship or not to worship, according to the dictates of his own conscience, provided that in the exercise of this right he respects the equal rights of others.

6. We believe that all religious legislation tends to unite church and state, is subversive of human rights, persecuting in character, and opposed to the best interests of both church and state.

7. We believe, therefore, that it is not within the province of civil government to legislate on religious questions.

8. We believe it to be our duty to use every lawful and honorable means to prevent religious legislation, and oppose all movements tending to unite church and state, that all may enjoy the inestimable blessings of civil and religious liberty.

9. We believe in the inalienable and constitutional right of free speech, free press, peaceable assembly, and petition.

10. We also believe in temperance, and regard the liquor traffic as a curse to society.

For further information regarding the principles of this association, address the Religious Liberty Association, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. (secretary, C. S. Longacre), or any of the affiliated organizations given below:

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

(affil

Atlantic Religious Liberty Association iated organizations in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island): Office, South Lancaster, Mass.: secretary, E. K. Slade.

Eastern Canadian Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and Newfoundland): Office, Oshawa, Ontario; secretary, F. W. Stray.

Central States Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, and Wyoming): Office, College View, Nebr.; secretary, S. E. Wight.

Columbia Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia. Delaware, and Maryland): Office, 3621 Rutherford St., Harrisburg, Pa.; secretary, F. H. Robbins.

Lake Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin): Office, Berrien Springs, Mich.; secretary, S. B. Horton, 812 Steger Bldg., Chicago, Ill.

Northern Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Minnesota. Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota): Office 2718 Third Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn.; secretary, E. T. Russell.

North Pacific Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska): Office, College Place, Wash.; secretary, H. G. Thurston.

Pacific Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona): Secretary, W. F. Martin, 421 North Isabel St., Glendale, Calif.

Southeastern Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina): Office, 224-228 First National Bank Bldg., Chattanooga, Tenn.; secretary, W. H. Heckman.

Southern Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi): Office, 2006 24th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn.; secretary, G. W. Wells.

Southwestern Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico): Office, 518-519 Terminal Bldg., Oklahoma City, Okla.; secretary, Morris Lukens..

Western Canadian Religious Liberty Association (affiliated organizations in Alberta, British Columbia. Manitoba, and Saskatchewan): Office, 201.. I. O. O. F. Building, Calgary, Alberta; secretary, A. C. Gilbert.

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." Leviticus 25:10.

Published quarterly by the

REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSN., TAKOMA PARK, WASHINGTON, D. C.

VOL. XIX

THIRD QUARTER, 1924

NO. 3

CHARLES S. LONGACRE, Editor

CALVIN P. BOLLMAN, Managing Editor WILLIAM F. MARTIN, Associate Editor

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Entered as second-class matter May 1, 1906, at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Sec. 1103, Act of Oct. 3, 1917, authorized on June 22, 1918.

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