p. 7 | National Reform Doctrine

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 9, 1908

National Reform Doctrine

In a sermon on “God on Our Currency and Christ in Our Schools,” by William Carter, D. D., pastor of the Madison Avenue Reformed church, New York City, printed in The Christian Statesman, we find these statements:—

The whole thing, indeed, resolves itself down to this. Is this nation to be a Christian nation, or is it not? Is it to be run in the interest of the Christian American or the unchristian foreigner? Do our public schools belong to us, or to the Mohammedans, the heathen, and the Jews? Now, let me say in all fairness, I have a great deal of respect for some of these people. I like the philosophical acumen of the Hindu; the devotion to his religion of the Mohammedan; the shrewdness and intelligence of the Jew,—and I number many of the latter among my friends,—but I say: America for the Americans! Christianity for the Christians! The public school for our children and the children’s Christ! And I say in all fairness, If anybody does not like us and our religion, then let him, in all good conscience, go somewhere else!

Some one might be led to inquire who these people are who thus claim to own this country, and who thus assume to banish those who do not agree with them in religious belief. But passing this by, we confess that we have not often seen a more brutally frank statement of the real essence of the National Reform doctrine than is here found. We should feel sorry, however, if any one should mistake this for the Christianity of the Bible. The pagan emperor Claudius acted upon this National Reform principle when he commanded all Jews to depart from Rome (Acts 18: 2), and now this preacher, who is professedly a representative of the meek and lowly Jesus, would make a similar decree against those in this country whom he designates as “the heathen.” But in doing this does he not abandon the truly Christian ground? Would Dr. Carter recommend the heathen of China and India to adopt his plan of action? and if they did so, what would become of the Christian missionaries? Strange indeed that such intolerance is advocated under the pretense of Christianity!