Urge Separation Church and State

ADDENDA

Commissioner Valentine issued an order that “in accordance with that essential principle of our national life, the separation of Church and State” no representative of any religious denomination should at general assembly exercises or in public school rooms wear any religious garb or insignia. USCS 4.1

In the President’s letter revoking that order he said: USCS 4.2

“I fully believe in the principle of the separation of Church and State on which our government is based; but the questions presented by this order are of great importance and delicacy. They arise out of the fact that the government has for a considerable period taken over for the use of the Indians certain schools theretofore belonging to and conducted by distinctive religious societies or churches. As a part of the arrangements then made the school employees who were in certain cases members of religious orders wearing the distinctive garb of these orders, were continued as teachers by the government, and by ruling of the Civil Service Commission or by executive action they have been included in the classified service under the protection of the civil service law.” USCS 4.3

The dispatch from Rome reporting Major Butt’s special trip to the Pope, says that he “presented a letter from President Taft thanking the Pontiff for the creation of three new American cardinals. The President wrote that this action was acceptable to Americans irrespective of their faith, as Catholicism contributes to the welfare of the country.” USCS 4.4

Is that “action” acceptable to you? You are pledged to the Pope by President Taft telling him of his mistake. Will you do this? Or will you allow yourself and your country thus to be delivered bodily to the Papacy, and you not say a word nor let anybody know even whether you are alive? USCS 4.5

ALONZO T. JONES.