The American Sentinel, Vol. 7, No. 9 (March 3, 1892) | AdventAI

Your Shelf Your Projects

In this edition

TOLERATION denotes neither the freedom of religion from State control, nor the equality of all religions before the law. On the contrary, it implies either a preference by the State for some one form of faith or worship, though other forms are permitted; or the right of the State to regulate the administration of ecclesiastical affairs by the civil law. In the etymological sense, toleration is the permitting of that which is not fully approved. In the ecclesiastical sense, it means definitely the allowance of religious opinions, and modes of worship, in a State when contrary to or different from those of the established church or belief. Toleration is a concession, in part, of that control over religion which the State assumes to exercise, but which it so far permits to fall into abeyance.Rev. T. De Witt Peake2 paragraphs
Some More Tennessee Cases.W. H. M.19 paragraphs
“ETERNAL vigilance is the price of liberty;” power is ever stealing from the many to the few. The manna of popular liberty must be gathered each day or it is rotten. . . . Only by unintermitted agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity.—Wendell Phillips.Wendell Phillips1 paragraphs
THE State can not teach morality, because it does not know morality. It does not know absolute right and wrong; it knows rights and wrongs. It does not know absolute goodness and badness; it knows the efficient and the detrimental. It does not know the holy and the sinful; it knows the loyal and the criminal. It does not know theft and murder and adultery and slander as wrong; it knows them as wrongs, as infractions of the rights of others, and as hurtful to the body politic. Thus not having a cognition of morality, it is impossible for the State to teach morality.—Rev. Owen James.Rev. Owen James1 paragraphs
SUNDAY laws are always and everywhere religious.1 paragraphs
Is It the Sabbath?C. P. B.20 paragraphs
Method in Their Madness.2 paragraphs
The Powers of a Commonwealth.J. O. CORLISS9 paragraphs
Where Will It End?J. W. Scoles12 paragraphs
THE Christian Advocate notes the approach of the centennial anniversary of the constitutional establishment of religious freedom in this country, and says: “The Executive Committee of the American Baptist Home Mission Society has decided to call a celebration of the centennial of the incorporation into the Constitution of the United States of the clause forbidding Congress to make any law establishing or forbidding the free exercise of religion, as a triumph of Baptist principles. The ratification of the amendment was declared during the congressional session of 1791-92, so that we are now in its centennial year. Arrangements are on foot to make the celebration a marked feature of the Baptist anniversaries, in May next, in Philadelphia.” At the same time they would do well to consider whether, in attending this anniversary, they are celebrating the birthday of a living principle in this Government, or have gathered to measure how much more than a word and a name that same amendment is after the lapse of one hundred years.1 paragraphs
THE lower house of the Prussian Landtag has been excitedly debating a new Educational Bill, which is practically a measure to make a State religion of which the German Emperor should be the Pope. The avowed object of the measure is to put the Prussian schools into the hands of the clergy, to make what is called religious instruction obligatory, and to exact from all students a full measure of conformity. In the language of the Imperial Chancellor, who is the chief advocate of the measure, “it is a bill against atheism.” It would force doctrinal teaching upon children whose parents are opposed to such teaching; it would force Jews to accept Christianity,—such Christianity as the priests of the State religion might choose to teach. It sets up as supreme what is called in Prussia the “Confessions.” The Emperor and his Lord Chancellor appear to believe that matters of faith can be easily regulated by statute, and that the people of Prussia are quite ready to put their consciences and their relations to God in the hands of the king. The opposition to the measure declares that it is an attempt to set up a political religion, which would practically result in the domination of an organized priesthood. The promoters of the bill admit the truth of the criticism, and attempt to justify it on the express ground that the real, vital question is whether Prussians are to be Christians or atheists. The discussion has been very warm, not a few of the government party being in the opposition. The Minister of Finance sees in it a menace to some of his plans for managing the monetary affairs of the empire, and has resigned. This is a singular comment upon the practical working of a religion made by law. We suggest that the advocates of legislation in behalf of religion and religious institutions in our own country make a study of this extraordinary Prussian movement.—Sabbath Recorder.1 paragraphs
The Pittsburg Dispatch again chronicles the results of the Sunday sessions of the police courts of that city,—fifty-six cases in all, before five magistrates. It seems the Law and Order League of Pittsburg has its own machinery oiled to run seven days in the week.1 paragraphs
An act was introduced in the Missouri Legislature, February 3, to prohibit the sale of any vinous or spirituous liquors within two and one-half miles of the Methodist and Christian churches at Marietta, Prentiss County, Mississippi. Why favor these two denominations above all others?1 paragraphs
A CABLE dispatch reports that a Chinese General, Tcheu Kitong, has been executed for treason in having become a Christian and for having furthered the cause of missions. It seems that they are practical “National Reformers” in China, and logically follow the doctrine to its ultimate conclusions.1 paragraphs
AN association, to be known as the “Milwaukee Sabbath League,” has been lately established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the resolutions adopted at its organization the aid of all citizens is invoked to secure the enforcement of Sunday laws, and it is “demanded” that the Wisconsin exhibit at the World’s Fair be closed on Sunday.1 paragraphs
THE petition list of the New Jersey Legislature, for one day, protesting against the opening of the World's Fair, on Sunday according to the record, was quite large,—petitions being presented by Senators Rue, McMickle, Rogers, Perkins, Adrain, Miller, Cornish, and Hinckliffe, signed by “numerous of their constituents.” The New Jersey Sabbath Union is making every effort to have the Legislature, commit itself on the question of Sunday closing of the Fair.1 paragraphs
AN evidence of how rapidly the idea of establishing national feast days, fast days, and religious and semi-religious holidays, is gaining ground, is the presentation in the Legislature of Minnesota, of a memorial asking for the passage of a law appointing October 12, the anniversary of the discovery of America, by Columbus, as “a day of national thanksgiving.” Of this the Christian at Work says: “We, together with the Lutheran Observer, have recommended the observance of Discovery Day for years.”1 paragraphs
IN Minneapolis, “Mayor Winston has signed the amended liquor ordinance giving only the police of the city authority to make complaints against saloon keepers. It is stated that Superintendent Henderson has ordered the police to keep their hands off, and that saloons will open Sunday, beginning February 21. The whole matter will be carried to the Supreme Court, by a citizens’ committee, on the plea that a person has the right to file information against another who is alleged to be breaking the laws of the State.”1 paragraphs
THE World's Fair bill, appropriating $300,000 for the exhibit of the State of New York, has been amended in the Assembly by the addition of a provision that the State exhibit should be kept closed on Sunday. The amendment was adopted by a vote of forty-nine to forty-seven. On motion of Mr. Bush the resolution was then laid aside, in order as the mover said, "to give the Republicans, who were trying to make political capital out of a religious question, time to think over the matter." The bill can be called up at any time, and if passed in this form by the Assembly will necessarily return to the Senate for its concurrence upon the amendment.1 paragraphs
THE “Pearl of Days,” says “the security or disaster of our American institutions depends upon the issue of this Sabbatic contest and the proper enforcement by civil enactment of all divine law that inures to the well being of the State.”1 paragraphs
that relates to the well being of the State. To determine what portion of divine law inures to the well being of the State, and then to construe that portion and decide as to its application to the State, the proper terms by which to enact it into civil law, and fix the methods of its enforcement, has always involved those legislators who have attempted it in such a maze of evident error, contradiction, inconsistency and injustice, as ought in itself to prove to any intelligent being the impropriety of attempting to enforce the divine law by the civil.1 paragraphs
AN exchange reports Rev. J. H. Willey, of Syracuse, New York, as teaching in a sermon, lately delivered in that city, that in order to preserve the religious observance of Sunday the Government must legislate to that effect, and then enforce its laws,—and saying, “When the law is made then I appeal to you as a church; I appeal to you as Christians, stand by the ship of State and if any one dares to desecrate the day—over the roll with the wretch!”1 paragraphs
desecrate the day—over the rail with the wretch!2 paragraphs
NATIONAL18 paragraphs
One of the Very Best Popular Religious Books Ever Published is10 paragraphs
REVELL'S IMPERIAL GLOBE ATLAS3 paragraphs
FOUND AT LAST!7 paragraphs
“McMASTER'S History of the United States” says of the code under which the French and Spanish city of New Orleans was governed before the cession of Louisiana to the United States in 1803,—“Wretched indeed was the plight of the friendless offender, or even an accused person, who was brought before one of these perambulatory judges. If he had reviled the Saviour or the Blessed Virgin, his property was confiscated and his tongue cut out.” Although such penalties would not now be imposed because of being “cruel and unusual,” neither would the reviling of the “Blessed Virgin” be treated as a penal offense, yet the spirit of this very criminal procedure is still retained, only modified out of respect to public feeling and to correspond with Protestant instead of Catholic creed.1 paragraphs
The Citrograph, Redlands, California, publishes this, credited to the Grocer and Country Merchant, and heads it, “Absurd Laws.”2 paragraphs
IN Pittsburgh, where the Law and Order League is very active in trying to put down the Sunday paper as well as all forms of Sunday work, the Printers’ Assembly, a branch of the Knights of Labor, has passed the following resolutions:—6 paragraphs
THE PROGRESS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,Philip Schaff6 paragraphs
SMITH'S COMPREHENSIVE DICTIONARY6 paragraphs
POLISHED STONES AND SHARPENED ARROWS,C. W. HIBB4 paragraphs
CRUDEN'S CONCORDANCE—A dictionary, and alphabetical index to the Bible. Cloth, $1.25. Sheep, $2.50.1 paragraphs
CHURCH AND STATE IN THE UNITED STATES.Philip Schaff4 paragraphs
ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE6 paragraphs
THERE are in use in Belgium special postage stamps for those who do not wish their mail handled on Sunday. The object of the Government is to ascertain what proportion of the people of that country are practically opposed to Sunday mails. Remarking upon this fact an obscure National Reform organ, published in this city, says:—4 paragraphs
The World expresses itself upon the Sunday law of the State of New York thus:—3 paragraphs
IN Switzerland, as well as in Belgium, “Sunday postage stamps” are advertised for sale, that thus, by their use, the authorities may obtain an expression as to the sentiment of the people in reference to Sunday mails. In comment upon this the Northwestern Christian Advocate, remarks:— It seems that the Government has not the courage to meet that question in a square and manly way. Oh, for more moral courage!2 paragraphs
In 1890 the friends of the “poor laboring man” in New Jersey made an effort to prevent his being “compelled” to work on Sunday; and this is what the New Jersey Agriculturist for July of that year said of it:—3 paragraphs
CERTAIN clergymen of Buffalo have requested the Superintendent of the public schools, of that city, to furnish for publication in the daily press the names, together with the religious belief, of all of the teachers employed. The request was doubtless due to the charge that a number of Catholic teachers had been appointed by the superintendent. The superintendent’s reply is respectful, as it should be, but it contains nevertheless a well-merited rebuke. He reminds the preachers that the laws and regulations governing the public schools of Buffalo do not require him to examine into the religious creeds of those who are employed, and further that for him to have attempted such an examination would have been impertinent and detrimental to the cause of education.1 paragraphs
SIXTY-NINE professors of the University of Berlin, including two of the theological faculty, have, it is stated, petitioned the Prussian Diet not to pass the Primary Education Bill, on the ground that the bill restricts the right of the State. It should be opposed on the ground that it restricts the right of the individual.1 paragraphs
THE Catholic Review claims that the Roman Catholic population of the United States is at least 20,000,000. Of these, 8,000,000 are “good Catholics,” and the remainder, persons who believe the doctrines of the Catholic Church but who neglect confession and communion; the Review calls them “bad” or “indifferent” Catholics.1 paragraphs
A WESTERN paper says that “at a recent special meeting of the Burlington, Iowa, branch of the Sunday Observance Union, resolutions were adopted strongly urging all persons interested in the proposed organization of a baseball club in Burlington, for the coming season, to insure that no games be played on Sunday, and pledging the Union to the enforcement of the Sunday observance law.”1 paragraphs
ATTENTION has been called recently, perhaps more emphatically than ever before, to some of the defects in the United States postal laws, by the exclusion of Printers' Ink, published in this city, from the privileges of second-class mail matter. That the decision is unjust and arbitrary must be clear to the average American mind; and that the law should be repealed or amended, which places such power in the hands of a single man, from whose decision it permits no appeal, is equally clear. On what principle the Post-office Department holds that Printers' Ink is third-class matter while it admits Book News as second-class, is hard to understand, unless indeed it is that the publisher of the latter publication is the Postmaster General. Mr. Wanamaker should spare time enough from political wire-pulling, or if needs be, from his Sunday school, to see that his subordinates deal a little more justly with the people.1 paragraphs
COMMENTING upon these facts, the Washington Post well says that “the school teachers of Buffalo are employed for the same reason that school teachers are engaged in other cities, and for this reason Superintendent Crooker’s reply will interest the whole country. If any teacher is incompetent, he or she, as the case may be, should be promptly removed. But if one religious denomination is to be denied the privileges of the common school system it would be unjust to expect those of that belief to contribute to the support of the schools. This is an old question; the people are opposed to sectarianism in the schools, and the inquiring ministers of Buffalo are not altogether wise.”1 paragraphs
“WENDELL PHILLIPS, the Agitator,” by Carlos Martyn, published by the Funk and Wagnalls Company, New York, 600 pages, price $1, is a very interesting and valuable addition to the historic literature of the anti-slavery agitation.1 paragraphs
Vick's Magazine for February is fully up to the high standard of that excellent publication. The price, 50 cents per year, is exceedingly low, and should, together with the intrinsic merit of the monthly, secure it a welcome in every home.1 paragraphs