p. 20 | A Practical Union of Church and State

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 19, 1906

“A Practical Union of Church and State”

By W. A. Colcord

THE majority report of the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, in the case of Senator Reed Smoot, rendered in the Senate June 11, giving reasons why Mr. Smoot is “not entitled to a seat as a senator of the United States from the State of Utah,” presented the following, taken from the Congressional Record of that day:—

“A Practical Union of Church and State.—The fact that the adherents of the Mormon Church hold the balance of power in politics in some of the States enables the first presidency of the twelve apostles to control the political affairs of those States to any extent they may desire. Thus a complete union of church and state is formed.”

If this is correct reasoning, then the following must also be correct: The fact that the adherents of those churches which observe Sunday as the Sabbath are seeking to gain the balance of power in politics in all the States, and thus in the nation, and so enable the leaders of these churches to control the political affairs of these States and of the nation to any extent they may desire, especially in the matter of enforcing Sunday observance by law, is proof that they are seeking to form in this country a complete union of church and state. We can see no good reason for singling out the Mormon Church in this matter, when nearly all the other churches in the country are equally guilty in spirit and effort.

W. A. COLCORD.