Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1929

74 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEniable proof of this is to be found in what the Court cited insupport of its pronouncement; namely, a number of our numerousChristian usages, customs, laws and institutions with whichwe are all more or less familiar and in the existence and prevalenceof which we all rejoice. For a nation to abound in these,even to be threaded through and through with them, is onething, but manifestly to do the will of God because it is Hiswill and out of a supreme desire to honor and glorify Him,(and that is the test by which we determine whether or no aman is a Christian) is quite another thing. And we must everkeep clearly in mind that it is because our nation as such neverhas openly owned Christ as its Lord and His law, in so far asthat law relates to nations, as the rule of its life and standardof its conduct, and so expressed itself in its highest written law,that Covenanters are political dissenters.3. Even the Supreme Court of the United States cannotamend the Federal Constitution by interpretation to the degreeof turning a lack of any reference into a positive declarationfor acknowledging Jesus Christ and His law. The actual opinionin question is, as we have said, concerning a statute law, andonly concludes from the argument "This is a religious people,"that no purpose of action against religion can be imputed in alaw when no reference to religion is made. Justice Brewer doesnot say that, if there had been a specific reference forbiddinghiring a foreign clergyman, this provision would have beenunconstitutional because the Constitution is Christian.In his argument to prove that this is a religious people, herefers to the Federal Constitution only in two clauses. One isin the First Amendment, that Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion, or prohibiting the freeexercise thereof, a provision which he indicates is a provisiontouching "upon the private life of the individual." This cannot,as we see it, be interpreted into a decision on the public lifeof the nation. The other provision Justice Brewer refers to isthat the Executive shall have ten days (Sundays excepted) toact upon a bill. This granting to the Executive a rest day doesnot require him to keep it as a Sabbath. This, therefore, cannot,as we see it, be a declaration for Jesus Christ and His law.4. This decision, as we see it, makes no distinction, eitherexpressly or impliedly, between the nation and its agent thegovernment. It is because the political body which constitutesthe governing society of our country in its compact of government—ourwritten fundamental law which lays down the principlesby which the nation is to be governed—sets up the will ofthe ruling majority as of supreme authority in civil life ratherthan the will of the only rightful Lord and Ruler of all nations,that the Covenanters maintain the position of political dissent.And until that compact has been altered in such a way as toforty the recognize tain offense desired o. our years before this position the result ago. decision Divine God. as It as the We will was well most simply as rendered as supreme, effective to must keep at in obey we means the a our time are God year consciences of pledged when rather 1892, bringing we than well to void had main­about men. nigh of