RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 527, 18 September 1871, Page 2

RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.

■jJFBOJt THE " PAXL MAX! GAZETTU."] A convention of two hundred delegates assembled at Philadelphia on tho 18th January to continue the agitation for an amendment to tho Constitution of the United States, by which. God should be recognised as the Ruler of the universe, and Christanity as the true basis of all human government. The Business Committee submitted a series of resolutions, the public discussion of which was to form tho main work of the Convention. The first resolution returns thanks to God for the' progress already made in the cause. The second pledges the delegates to renewed zeal in its ser» vice. The third calls the attention of tho American people to the fact upon which it is based. These facts briefly stated are as follow: That the Constitution of the United States is devoid of any religious or even moral sentiment; uay more, that in some treaties with foreign I'owers, which, it must be remembered, are ileclared by the" Constitution to be part of the lavr of the United >tates, the American nation its proclaimed to be in no sense founded upon the Christian religion. Nevertheless, the nation formed out of the<thirteen British colonies is shown by the histories of llio several colonies as well as by their charters and constitutions to have been a Christian nation. '! he Committee then lays down the principle that oivil government stands for right of existence upon the same bai-is as tho family, and that nations, like families, are public persons with moral characteristics; fin tho last place, it urges that the continued ignoring of God ani religion exposes the country to the guilt of formal atheism ; and 7 that considering the controlling power of'the Constitution in shaping state, as well as national pohoy, it is of immediate importance to such an amendment as will "place i Christian laws, institutions, and/usageim our Government on an uudcniable legal basis iv the fundamental law of cur nation." T £3