The United States, a Christian Nation

NATION BY DAVID J. BREWER Afsocun JusTici op tri Supreme Court OF THE United States THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY COPTRIGMT, 1905 By the JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY Set up, electrotyped and published September, 1905 I^aiiecf otb Ifbtaq; intnxtti From the provisions of the donor : "The money [$10,000] to be kept safely invested, the Income only to be used for an annual course or series of lectures before the senior class of the College and other students, on the Bible, its history, and its literature, and, as way may open for it, upon its doctrine and its teachmg.

I. Thi United States a Christian Nation II. Our Duty as Citizens III. The Promise and the PossiBiLmr or thi Future I. THE UNITED STATES A CHRISTIAN NATION WE classify nations in various ways, as, for instance, by their form of government. One is a kingdom, another an empire, and still another a republic. Also by race. Great Britain is an AngloSaxon nation, France a Gallic, Germany a Teutonic, Russia a Slav. And still again by religion. One is a Mohammedan nation, others are heathen, and still others are Christian nations. This republic is classified among the Christian nations of the world. It was so formally declared by the Supreme Court of the United States. In the case of Holy Trinity Church us. United States, 143 U. S. 471, that court, after inSntioning various circumstances, added, "these ahd many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation/' II But in what sense can it be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christi- ' anity is the established religion or that the people are in any manner compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of - religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Neither is it Christian in the sense that all its citizens are either in fact or name Christians. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions, ^nd many reject all. Nor is it Christian in the sense that a profession of Christianity is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in the public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this republic as a Christian nation — in fact, as the leading Christian nation of the world. This popular use of the term certainly has significance. It is not a mere creation of the imagination. It is not a term of derision but has a substantial basis — one which justifies its use. Let us analyze a little and see what is the basis.

Its use has had from the early settlements on our shores and still has an official foundation. It is only about three centuries since the beginnings of civilized life within the limits of these United States. And those beginnings were in a marked and marvelous degree identified with Christianity. The commission from Ferdinand and Isabella, to Columbus recites that "it is hoped that by God's assistance some of the continents and islands in the ocean will be*"discovered." The first colonial grant, that made to Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1584, authorized him to enact statutes for the government of the proposed colony, provided that "they be not against the true Christian faiths now professed in the Church of England." The first charter of Virginia, granted by King James I, in 1606, after reciting the application of certain parties for a charter, commenced the grant in these words: "We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their desires for the furtherance of so noble a work, which may, by the providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating the Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God." And language of similar import is found in subsequent charters of the same colony, from the same king, in 1609 and 161 1. The celebrated compact made by the Pilgrims on the Ma3rflower, in 1620, recites : "Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and the honor of our king and country a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia." The charter of New England, granted by James I, in 1620, after referring to a petition, declares: "We, according to our princely inclination, favoring much their worthy disposition, in hope thereby to advance the enlargement of Christian religion, to the glory of God Almighty." The charter of Massachusetts Bay, granted in 1629 by Charles I, after several provisions, recites: "Whereby our said people, inhabitants there, may be so religiously, peaceably and civilly governed as their good life and orderly conversation may win and incite the natives of the country to their knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind, and the Christian faith, which in our royal intention and the adventurers free profession, is the principal end of this plantation," which declaration was substantially repeated in the charter of Massachusetts Bay granted by William and Mary, in 1691.

The fundamental orders of Connecticut, under which a provisional government was instituted in 1638- 1639, provided: "Forasmuch as it has pleased the Almighty God by the wise disposition of His divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we, the inhabitants and residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, are now cohabitating and dwelling in and upon the River of Connecticut and the lands thereto adjoining …