The Recrudescence of Evil Days
Never perhaps since the days of the Reformation was there a time of such wide-spread agitation for what will ultimately mean the union of church and state. We are living in the later American Republic the life of the Roman Republic over again. As men lost faith in God's word in the early centuries of Christendom, as the state, influenced by the wealthy and luxurious, sunk more and more deeply into iniquity and manifold crimes of every sort, the apostate church and the weakened state naturally came together,—ambitious men in the state to secure the power of the church for the furtherance of their aims, and ambitious men of the church to secure the power of the state for the enforcement of so-called Christian dogmas. We are living in principle that time over to-day. And, saddest of all, it is manifest in what was once, at least, "the land of the free and the home of the brave," a nation that had nailed to its standard banners bearing the inscription, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Yet there lie before us at the present writing not less than four bills at present before Congress, every one of which if enacted into law will be an advance step to the fuller union of church and state. 1. H. R. Bill No. 327, introduced by Mr. Ollie M. Jones, referred to the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, to restore the inscription, "In God We Trust," upon the coins of the United States of America. It is very brief, as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that all coins of the United States of America hereafter minted or coined shall bear the inscription, 'In God We Trust.'" 2. H. R. Bill 4597, introduced by Mr. Allen, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, entitled "A Bill to Further Protect the First Day of the Week as a Day of Rest in the District of Columbia;" prohibiting the keeping open of any place of business or the maintaining of any stand for the sale of any article or articles of profit during Sunday, except venders of books and newspapers, and apothecaries for the dispensing of medicine, undertaking establishments and other things for the purpose of charity or necessity. Football and baseball, all other kinds of playing, sports or pastimes or diversions disturbing the peace and keeping of the day prohibited in the District of Columbia on Sunday; building operations and railway construction made unlawful. Violation of the law is subject to a penalty of not less than $5.00 nor more than $50.00; in cases of corporations a light fine for every person employed in violation of this act. Those who uniformly keep another day of the week as a day of rest are exempt from prosecution. 3. H. R. Bill 4929, introduced by Mr. Heflin, referred to the Committee on District of Columbia, entitled "A Bill Prohibiting Labor on Buildings, etc., in the District of Columbia on the Sabbath Day." 4. S. Bill 1519, introduced by Mr. Penrose, referred to the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads, entitled "A Bill to Prevent Sunday Banking in Post-offices in the Handling of Money-orders and Registered Letters." Of the first of these we are glad to see that some of the great journals of the United States, like the "Independent," and some of the devoted religionists of the United States, are not in anywise troubled over the irreligion of leaving off the words "In God We Trust." Of what importance are they anyway? How do they bring the nation or the individual nearer God? It was said of Israel of old the more they increased the more they sinned against God; yet they multiplied to themselves altars, increased their prayers, kept their feasts at the new moon, and made high profession. Whether our coinage shall bear the inscription or not will make or break no true character. If the dishonesty which has been revealed in almost every phase of life, and12country-wide, continues, the inscription will be a hollow mockery. As to the bills which follow, no human law can make a Sabbath, protect a Sabbath, or make Sabbath-keepers acceptable in God's sight. Presumably the men behind these are professed Christians; they believe neither in the Jewish nor the Mohammedan religion, yet they would forbid men proper physical exercise who believe in Christ, while at the same time they would allow religious teaching and public worship of the most antichristian character. Of course the Mohammedan or any other religious person has the right so far as man is concerned to worship what he will and as he will. But the facts show how utterly inconsistent is every attempt to control worship and regulate religious institutions or dogmas by law. Why not TRUST God to care for His own Sabbath? The Religious Liberty Society will make a strong fight in the District of Columbia to enlighten the people. We earnestly hope that our readers will study the question and be found on the right side.