p. 21 | Dechristianizing Our Country by S. B. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 15, 1912

“Dechristianizing Our Country”

By S. B. H.

IN the February Christian Statesman appears an editorial on the subject of the Jews in the United States, in which is said, among other things:—

“The position of prominence and influence acquired by the Jews in the United States within the past few years has become a subject of frequent comment by many thoughtful people. In some quarters it has occasioned no little uneasiness and even alarm. Grave fears are entertained lest they succeed in dechristianizing our country. It has even been said that they entertain the purpose of dechristianizing the Christian church itself.”

The article goes on to say that in the year 1818 “the Jews in this country numbered 3,000; in 1824, 6,000; in 1840, 15,000; in 1848, 50,000; in 1880, 230,000; in 1888, 400,000; in 1897, 973,000; in 1905, 1,508,435; in 1907, 1,777,185; in 1910, 2,044,762.”

We do not believe that the fears of the Christian Statesman are well grounded. Granting that there was a possibility of this country’s being dechristianized, whatever that may mean, it is absolutely impossible for the Jews or any other race of people to dechristianize the Christian church.

It is true that the Jewish people have had experiences, particularly in Europe, with the “Christian church” as it exists in Spain and Russia, which would warrant their protest against the Constantinian brand of Christianity. And it is just possible that the Jews, seeing the possibilities which will certainly be the outcome of the success of the National Reform movement in this country, would attempt to exercise an influence upon the body politic to prevent a recurrence of experiences through which they have passed in so-called Christian nations of Europe.

The National Reform Association is, in our judgment, more of a menace to this land of liberty and freedom than are the Jews; for the Jewish people are not asking for Constitutional amendments and legislation which will inure to the benefit of the Jewish religion; whereas, the National Reform organization has been incessant in its demands for that character of legislation which would result in the persecution of every individual not in harmony with the views of that association. We will give a concrete case or two suggested by the literature that association circulates:—

“Those who oppose this work now will discover, when the religious amendment is made to the Constitution, that if they do not see fit to fall in with the majority, they must abide the consequences, or seek some more congenial clime.”—Dr. David McAllister, in National Reform convention at Lakeside, Ohio, August, 1887.

“Let those who will, remember the Sabbath to keep it holy, from motives of love and obedience; the remnant must be made to do so through fear of law. We have no option.”—Christian Nation, Sept. 28, 1887.

“To be perfectly plain, I believe that the existence of a Christian constitution would disfranchise every logically consistent infidel.”—Rev. W. J. Coleman, in Christian Statesman, Nov. 1, 1883.

It may not be amiss to ask the Christian Statesman why it does not express alarm at the strides being made for supremacy in this country by the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Why does not the Christian Statesman discuss the impropriety of the resolution adopted by the Federation of Catholic Societies in 1910 and 1911 looking to the amending of the postal laws so as to prohibit from the mails any literature that may “contain scurrilous and slanderous attacks upon our faith”?

In the light of National Reform utterances, backed up by carefully planned movements, it must appear evident that one of the greatest menaces to civil and religious liberty in this country is the association of which the Christian Statesman is the official organ.

S. B. H.