“Are We a Christian Nation?”
UNDER cover of this question, which is calculated to appeal powerfully to the denominational feeling that may exist in any heart, the friends of the religious amendment are pushing forward their work. The last number of The Christian Press, the organ of the Western Tract Society, under the above named heading, gives utterance to the following thoughts on this question:— “We believe that a large majority of the people in the United States fully accept the doctrine that civil government is an ordinance of God, and that the Bible contains the principles upon which all public as well as private business should be transacted, in opposition to the infidel theory that civil government is a mere compact between individuals, and that whatever the majority may determine is not only law but right. But if the majority do accept the fact that God is the source of all authority in civil government, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Ruler of nations, and his law of supreme authority, surely there can be no objection to stating the fact in our fundamental law. It is not a question of religion merely; if that were all it would have no right to a place in a civil constitution, but it is one of civil government as well—one, too, which lies at the very foundation of all Christian statesmanship. To secure this result, a series of conventions have been held, under the auspices of the National Association, for procuring this amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the last one in Columbus, Ohio, beginning the 10th of March.” V. S.