Untitled article

Pacific Press Publishing Company · New York · September 3, 1891

FromThe American Sentinel, Vol. 6, No. 35

THE Christian Advocate has the following:—

Speaking of the flag of our country in connection with the schools, the Youth's Companion says: “The flag, rightly regarded, represents many good things besides loyalty; it represents truth, religion, liberty, law, self-sacrifice, mutual help, and forbearance for a common good.” There are men in our country who deny that the flag has anything whatever to do with religion. They would teach the children that there is no religious significance whatever in the banner of the Republic. They tell us that it rather signifies a complete divorce of the Nation from religion. They contend that in our country not only are Church and State separated, but religion and the State also. This is a false and dangerous sentiment. But for religion we would have no Republic. The foundations of our Government were laid in the principles of Christianity. The teachings of Christ are interwoven with our laws, our literature, and our national customs and life. The flag represents religion, protects it, and derives from it strength and glory.

The idea that “the flag” represents religion is utterly absurd. George Washington, one of the founders of this Republic, and its first President, said: “The Government of the United States is in no sense founded upon the Christian religion,” therefore the flag of this country can in no sense represent the Christian religion. And if it did represent the Christian religion what phase of it would it represent, Protestant or Catholic? The men who teach that the flag has no religious significance teach truly, while men who teach the contrary show thereby their desire to have their religion enforced by the power represented by the flag, namely, by the State.