Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

T h e Ghristian KatiooWEDNESDAY. MAY 3, 1808.P. O. Box 2633, Niw Yobk,John W. Pritchard, - Editob and Manaoeb.Associate Editors :Eev. W. J. Coleman,Rev. 0. D. Trumbull, D. D.,Prof. J. M. Coleman.Department Editors :Departmentof Miasions,'Rev. F. M. Foster.Sabbath School Lesson, Rev. T. P. Eobb.Primary S. S. Lesson, Grace Hamilton George.Prayermeeting Topic, Rev. T. H. Aoheson.Christian Endeavor, Rev. T. Holmes Walker.The Week in Beview, Prof. J. M. Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet S. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Rev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Corner:Mrs. Eev. R. J. George, Mrs. M. S. Gibson,Beaver Falls, Pa.New Oastle, Pa.REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SYNOD.—The Clerk of Synod would again remind sessionsof the rule requiring " sessions to send the names ofdelegates at least one week before the meeting of thejudicatory ;" alao that a certiflcate to be regularmust be " signed hy the moderator and clerk of session,or by a majority of the elders, if a congregationbe vacant and there has been no opportunity to makean appointment in constituted session." Please address,0. D. Trumbull, Morning Sun, Iowa.—One of our western pastors writes that some maynot come to Synod owing to the expanse, whioh nowincludes boarding. Any so situated should write tothe chairman of the committee, if their coming is dependenton this, and ask if they will be entertained,and let their attendance be decided by the reply sentthem as to themselves. A number will of choice paythe expense of boarding to relieve others.—Those attending the Synod of the Reformed PresbyterianChurch at New Custle, Pa., beginning May31st, can see more of this country, can view the mostpicturesque soenery in America, and il traveling fromthe eastern cities can pass through Washington andtraverse the historio Potomac Valley, the theatre ofthe war between the states, by traveling via the Bal-:timore and Ohio Railroad. All throagh passengertrains of this Company are vestibuled from end toend, and equipped with Pullman Sleeping Oars.Trains leave New York for New Castle at 12.15 a. m.,•ndl.SOp. M., daily; leave Philadelphia 8.15 a.m.,and 4.00 p. m. For fall information as to rates, timeof trains and Sleeping Oar accommodations, apply toE. G. Tuckerman, City Passenger Agent, 415 Broadway,New York; James Potter, District PassengerAgent, 833 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia ; or Chas. O.Boull, General Passenger Agent, Baltimore, Md.New Castle, Pa., April 13, 1893.All minisieri and elders who are coming to themeeting of Synod ia New Castle, please send forwardyonr names to Robert Speer, Ohairman of CorrespondingCommittee, Box 161, New Castle, Pa. Sendat the earliest opportunity, and whether you want entertainmentat a hotel or in a private family. Hotelrates from $1.00 to $1.50 per day ; and at boardingiousesand private families at from 76o. to $1.00.EoBEBT Sfbeb.CHRISIIAN NATION. Volume 18.CHRISTIANITY IN THE CONSTITUTION.E. Mulford in bis work, " The Nation, " says," We are told by the theological doctors, andby tbe political doctrinaires, not tbat tbe peopleare saved by faith in God and bis righteousness,but that tbe only safety is in tbe constitutioninclusive of a certain scientific formula,defining tbe correct relation of tbe states.Tbe discussion as to tbe formal recognition ofGod in tbe written or enacted constitution basscarcely a better ground. Iu tbe historical orprovidential —tbe real and unwritten constitution—it is tbe very condition of tbe being oftbe nation. But the written or enacted constitutiondefines only tbe formal organization andrelation of tbe powers of the state, and tbenalso it is an instrument of law, and subject toamendment, etc., and divine recognition migbtbe required witb tbe same propriety in everylegislative enactment." Our attention hasbeen called to tbese words as an answer to theeditorial tbat appeared in our columns in referenceto acknowledgement of God in tbewritten constitution. These words, we reply,do not answer the argument. We admire tbesystematic presentation of political philosophypresented in tbe worK of Mulford. He begins,not witb the social compact, but witb tbe socialnature of man, and presents to us the genesis,growth, aud systematic organization of tbe nation,in a manner tbat commends itself notonly to Bible students, but to tbe followers ofphilosophic thought who look to Aristotle andHegel. He presents to us a trutb tbat cannot begainsaid wben be says, " Tbe nation can meetthe forces witb which it bas to contend only asit realizes its own moral being, aud recognizesits origin and end in God. , . It is to fulfil a divinecalling. It is tokeep a boly purpose. Itis to enter tbe battle for righteousness andfreedom. It is to contend through sufferingand sacrifice, witb faitb in tbe redemption ofbumanity,—rights given to it by Him wboseimage it bears." Later he adds, " tbe end towardswbich the nati..n in the earlier agesmoved, and towards wbich all tbe nationsmoved,—the centre of history,—is the Christ.The revelation is in a person. . . Tbe nation isto work in tbe re lization on the earth of hiskingdom, wbo is tbe only aud eternal king."Tbe words quoted at tbe opening are undoubtedlya contradiction of the many statementsin tbe work of Mulford, and an evasive attemptto get over a conclusion, es logical as true. IfMulford'a statements are true, and in tbe main,we accept of bis conclusions, then, tbe nationthat acknowledges a God in history, wbo is tbeorigin and end of its existence, must to bo trueto that conviction make pjiblic avowal of thesame. Instead of tbis the platform of politicalexpediency and human derivation ia thefirst plank in the public platform accepted andpublished by this nation. Mulford gives ventto an apology whicb we meet with constantly,in the attempt to get over the inconsistency ofthe position taken by tbe " people of tbe UnitedStates " in her written decl»ration. It is saidthe historical and providential constitution isunwritten ; tbat the real constitution is someunknown quantity that hes somewhere in thedim unknown, while the written constitution iatbe formal document of organ ization. In orderto reach this point it is said tbat many thingshave been read into the constitution not reallytbere. But that is no argument. The formalconstitution united tbe people of the UnitedStates, as a nation, in its govemmental action,and it was set up as tbe public document guaranteeingas well as declaring tbe fundamentalrigbts of tbe citizens in the nation, and layingdown tbe basis for the government of tbe nationby those put into office. Be tbe nationwhat ic may in its individual elements, iu itscollective capacity, as a moral person, it hasdeclared that it alone is tbe source of government,and that it has no higher end than itsown material interests, and it holds high in itshand tbis document, placing it in tbe hands oftbe government as tbe sine qua non in executive,legislative and judicial actions. Tbe membersof tbe judiciary who bave been called uponto interpret the language have beeu oareful tolet it be known tbat they declare simply tbesense of tbe constitution, tbey do not make aaynew consiitution. Now if it is tbe very codditionof tbe being of tbis nation that God isat its foundation, manifested in its growth andtbe end of its existence, why stand before theworld committed to a fake statement in thatdocument wbich tbe world accepts as a statementof the true facis. To say that " wilh thosame propriety " the recognition of God mightbe demanded " in every legislative enactment "is simply a, petitioprincipii. Every legislativeenactment is reqaired to be constitutional,tbat is to say, at the head, as the preamble ofevery legislative act, we are required to readthe entire Constitution of tbe United States,at tbe head of every governmental act we arerequired to postulate tbe same constitution—otherwise the laws and actions would be unconstitutional.Btadera of the Chbistian Nation:—Are there- •nottwenty-five people ofyour acquaintance who would bethe better of receiving leaflets setting forth the Covenanterposition on the voting questionf Send its intheir names and addresses with fifty-five centt forpostage and we will see that they get the arguments.Address Com. on Testimony Bearing, 50 Boyle St.,Allegheny, Pa.TheWeek.—Two murderers condemned to death escaped fromSing Sing Prison on April 20th. They locked thenight watchmen in their cells, went through the roofand then jumped to the ground. They have not yetbeen diseovered.--The second reading of the Irish Home Eule Billhas been the signal for rioting in Ireland. TheOrangemen of Belfast have been in a state of excitementand have attacked many houses of Nationalists.They have expelled several huQdred workmen fromthe shipbuilding yards.—A severe cyclone passed over Oklahoma territorylast week causing considerable damage and resultingm the loss of over fiftylives.—The Emperor of Germany is an Imperial visitor