CHRISTIAN NATION | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 28, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 13.

“CHRISTIAN NATION.”

The “Christian-nation” idea which he injected in, and made a part of, a decision of the Supreme Court some years ago, thereby giving to the decision a fame which it will probably long enjoy, and a character which, however pleasing it may be to those citizens of theocratical inclinations, makes it repugnant to a most vital principle of the Republic and of modern civilization—the separation of church and state, theology and politics—is evidently a hobby of Justice Brewer of the United States Supreme Court and the Presbyterian Church. Not only has he exploited the idea in the decision mentioned, and quite recently in a book, but he reiterates it publicly at every opportunity. A recent instance of this has been in an address in Washington before the Young Men’s Club of the First Congregational Church, where he declared before a senator, members of Congress, and a high government official:

This is a Christian nation. In the cabin of the Mayflower was signed the compact that recognized God as the Ruler of nations. Every alien in becoming naturalized appeals in his oath to God. Throughout the life of the nation has ever run the idea of Christianity. In the darkness of Valley Forge the father of his country was found in prayer. At Franklin’s suggestion the convention which met to form a constitution commenced with prayer. In the dark hours of Lincoln’s death there came the inspiration, “God reigns and the Republic still lives.”

Of course it is all right for Judge Brewer to be a churchman on such occasions as the above, but he has no business to be a churchman when he writes decisions in the United States Supreme Court.