Rights God-Given.-

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 3, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 43.

Rights God-Given.—

Because a Roman Catholic or a Protestant discovered a land and took possession thereof in the name of his religion, does not give him authority to dictate or control the religion of the people of the land. Every soul of opposite faith who may thereafter legally enter that land, acquire homestead and citizenship, has rights as sacred as the first discoverer’s. He may not enact his religion into law; nor has the discoverer such right. The Roman Catholic may consecrate the land to St. Francis, St. Louis, or any other saint if he so desires; he may work in holy zeal to accomplish his desires, but he may go no further. Every soul legally dwelling within that territory has the same rights as himself. A rightful regard of these simple principles would save our Catholic friends and their apologists much confusion and trouble.