Separation of church and state

Title

Creator

Kevetter, Frederick J.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow III (3) January 1961

Year

1961

Subject

Church and state -- Philippines

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

SEPARATION Of CHURCH AND STATE OR SEPARATION Of RELIGION AND STATE As a subject of controversy, the problem shakes the very foundation of de mocratic ideals. Here is an intriguing account of the dilemma which democracies face. by BRO. FREDERICK J. KEVETTER 601 A CIV sg., APO 171, Netu York, N. One of the strongest points of Ma sonry has been the willingness to seek out and recognize truth and light wherever found. It is also recognized that a truth once found can be losi through violence, neglect, or obscurThere is a vital truth that is being lost through obscurity. While it is no ones fault—, it is still slipping from our grasp. As workmen we must be willing to pay the price of honest industry to keep truth ever in the open that all may see and be en lightened. I speak concerning the Christian Church, the Constitution and the State. There is a slogan in which we sav we believe, but its meaning is obscure. I'lie slogan is “Separation of Church and State.” First of all the slogan does not say which church. Some wotdd say it means the Roman Church. If this be so then so lei us state. Others would say that "church” is a general term. In this connection it is important to note it is customary today to refer to the Christian church but the Judaic, Hindi or Buddhist religion. Therefore, if church is a general term, modern usage limits its meaning to Christianity. This being so, ii would be discrimination against the Christian church and would leave the way open for the togetherness of Judaism and the Slate, Hinduism and the State, Buddhism and the State, Materialism and the State, and so Secondly, we must turn to the Con stitution for our source of material. In the Bill of Rights we find this statement pertaining to religion and the slate, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of re ligion or prohibiting the free exer cise thereof ...” Dining the colonial period the Church of England was the estab lished church. A number of free church people were persecuted be cause they did nol wish to submit to Church of England and to support it financially. After our independence was won and the Constitution was framed, the ten amendments or Bill of Riglits had to be added to the Constitution before the colonics would ratify it. 70 THE CABLE TOW January, 19G1 The statement “Congress shall make no law respecting an establish ment of religion or prohibiting the tree exercise thereof ...” was add ed to be sure that no one religion would be forced upon the people and that the slate would not keep a man front worshipping as he felt he should. To be true to the Consti tution and to Masonry we must treat all religions alike. Therefore, we must join the writers of the Bill of Rights and use as our slogan "The Separation of Religion and State.” This brings us to our third point: the State. The State is to provide orderly and just government for all its citizens. The State is not to con trol, dictate, establish, or prohibit the free exercise or religion. Nor it reli gion to control or dictate to the State. May we ever remember, while it is good that the State should not con trol religion and religion should not control the State, let us not forget that God should control both. Ed. Note. The foregoing article is reprinted from The New Age. November 1960, pp. 29 & 30. In the Free Press, December 3, 1960, pp. 22 & 24, Diokno Manlavi writes an account of the estab lishment of the Republic of Lucbuan, near Cuyo, Palawan, in 1899. The petite, short-livd republic was cstabli-he-’ by Don Casiano Padon, a native cf Molo, Iloilo, who was its first and only pres ident. His purpose was to have a gov ernment completely free from Spain, the Philinirne renubFc <>p Aguiraldo. and the United States. All went well in the government until Padon decided to have his "republic” build a church which was opposed by the legislature and the people. So strong was the opposition that Padon fled with his fa mily tn Iloilo and thus, for the second t:mc. the attempt to ioin the Church and the State in the Philippines was frust rated. It will be recalled that when the Malolo' Constitution was framed in 1897, the delegates voted to have sepa ration. DECLARATION OF THE FREE We have no falsehood to defend, We want the facts; Our force, our thought, we do not spend In vain attacks. And we will never try To save fair and pleasing lie. The simple truth is what we ask, Not the ideal; We have set ourselves the noble task To find the real. If all there is, is naught but dress We want to know and hear our loss. We will not willingly be fooled, By fables nursed; Our hearts, by earnest thought, are schooled To bear the worst. And we can stand erect and dare All things, all facts, that really are. Wo have no god to serve or fear, No hell to shun, No devil with malicious leer. When life is done, An endless sleep may close our eyes A sleep with neither dreams nor sighs. We have no master on the land— No King in air— Without a monocle we stand With a prayer, but Without a fear of coming night, Wo seek the truth, we love the light. We do not bow before a guess, A vague unknown; A senseless force we do not bless In solemn tone. Wheri evil comes wo do not curse Or thank because it is no worse. When cyclones rend—when lightning blights, T’is naught but fate; There is no God of wrath Who smites In heartless hate. Behind the things that injure man There is no purpose, thought or plan. We waste no time in useless dread, In trembling fear; 71

pages

70-71

Media