A CORRECT PRINCIPLE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 15, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 20.

A CORRECT PRINCIPLE.

HON. POPE BROWN is one of the prospective candidates for Governor of Georgia in the next campaign in that State. He was recently a delegate to a Baptist convention in Georgia, and the report got out that he did some electioneering while there. He was communicated with direct upon the subject, and a part of his reply is these sound sentiments:—

“I do not regard a Baptist convention as the proper body for nominating political candidates, either Democrat or Prohibitionist. It will certainly be a sad day for Georgia when our religious assemblies resolve themselves into political caucuses, and any man who would seek to prostitute them for such purpose is unfit to be the candidate of any party.”

The Baptists have made some splendid history in the cause of religious freedom. Heroic work along this line is still needed, and it is cheering to read such strong, sound sentiments as these. There are some who think that the battle for religious freedom has been fought, and that the victory is forever won. But there was never a greater delusion. The very fact that such a large majority feel so secure in their freedom for the time being gives the old enemy of liberty the chance that he desires to work out his evil designs and foist them upon the world. And the sad part of it is, that as he does it the people still think they are exercising their liberties in the very transactions that give them away. It is only when men recognize the danger, that they feel for the foundation principles, and lay hold upon the solid rock of truth. There is much that passes for freedom which, when examined properly, is nothing less than the seed of tyranny and oppression.