As set forth in an article by A. J. S. Bourdeau elsewhere in this paper, religious liberty is an inherent right belonging to every individual. God has given the right of choice, and consequently the right of religious freedom to each one. No man, or combination of men, can of right take this freedom from another, neither can they of right grant him religious toleration. For what a man possesses inherently should not be conceded to him thru toleration by his fellow men, but of right.
In most of the nations, both heathen and the so-called Christian, in all past time the idea has prevailed that it was necessary for the good of mankind to have some form of religion that was recognized, supported, and enforced by the State. Some of the bloodiest wars and also the cruellest and most torturing persecutions have been carried on in consequence of this idea of the necessity of the State connection with religion.
The Gospel invitation reads,
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matt. 11: 28-30.
And in perfect accord with the foregoing verses is the following invitation by the Author of the same Gospel:
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come; he that will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22: 17.
The tenor of the Gospel of Christ is in harmony with the foregoing texts. Christ's Gospel is not a gospel of force or of arbitrary compulsion, but a gospel of entreaty, of persuasion, of invitation.
It is easy to see how the heathen world would be intolerant and seek to compel men to adopt some set form of religion, even at the point of the bayonet. But how it could be possible for men to hold the profession of Christianity, and claim to be guided by the precepts of Him who said, "Come unto Me" and "He that will, let him take the water of life freely," and still undertake to enforce religion by the sword, is a great mystery. No man can be a Christian indeed and seek to compel one of his fellow men to observe any point of religious faith. If he can not persuade him, he will not think of such an evil thing as trying to compel him.
The true principles of religious freedom as set forth in the invitation of the Gospel have been held by all true Christians in all the ages. It has been when men have apostatized into darkness that they have sought to compel men to believe. The great battle for religious freedom has been fought all thru the ages. Some telling blows were struck by the mighty Reformation of the sixteenth century. The seeds of true freedom were planted in Germany, in England, and in Holland especially, and to a greater or less extent in all parts of Europe. The conflict was waged, and in no place was the controversy fiercer than in England, and nowhere was it crowned with greater success. England fought for her religious freedom and also for her political freedom at the same time. And from this sturdy stock of reformers there came to the New World a band of men to establish
A Government on Right Principles.
And so we hear the founders of this government saying at the outset:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."—From the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence.
Note that this government is founded on the basis of recognized "rights." And, furthermore, the great principle is stated that these "rights" are "unalienable," for with these rights men "are endowed by their Creator." The plan of government previous to this time had been almost wholly based upon the rights of rulers, and that these rulers would "grant" or "tolerate" certain things for the people.
Washington's Monument, Baltimore.
And with the persecutions of the Old World still vividly in mind, and to forever set at rest the idea of a State religion in this New Country, the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States—the country that was built upon that immortal Declaration of Independence, reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Thus in the new nation in the New World was the great principle of religious freedom that the Gospel teaches laid firmly in the fundamental law of its government. Religious freedom as a natural, unalienable right is a chief corner-stone in the newborn Republic.
Builded upon such a foundation as this, behold how she has grown! She has stood as a mighty and towering monument to all the world, showing the races and tribes of mankind what can be accomplished by a people that are a unit in holding that they have the "right" to be free. And while the material growth and development of the nation has been the marvel of the world, yet the growth of contented happiness among this free people has also been the world's admiration.
To the shores of this new Republic have flocked the oppressed and unfortunate of every race and of every clime. Here they have found a haven of rest and a harbor of peace. Here they have found a freedom that can only exist where it is an acknowledged principle that men have "rights" that can not be alienated; and that these rights come from God, and not from earthly rulers; that these rights allow a man to worship or not to worship according as his conscience or his desires may lead him.
When this country was founded upon such principles that were so revolutionary in the world at that time, it was looked upon by all the inhabitants of civilization as a vast experiment. They expected to see the nation soon crumble and come to naught. But, instead, they have seen it grow with incredible speed into one of the6mightiest world powers. There is no corner of the globe in which the benign influences of the new Republic are not felt. Never was there a happier or a more prosperous or more progressive people on the face of the earth in any time of all its history.
The principles on which the government was founded have been the source of its happiness, its greatness, and its power. It is well to see to it that these principles are kept ever before the people, and all is preserved in purity in the hearts of the children of the Republic. For to allow our foundation principles to become impaired would mean to crumble thru decay into ruin.
