December 16, 1895

“Theory and Principle” The Bible Echo 10, 49, p. 387.

ATJ

A. T. JONES

THE theory of separation of church and state, the theory of true religious liberty, is accepted almost universally, but the principle is very little held. There is a vast difference between the theory and the principle. And until men get the principle in its purity, they cannot be prepared for the application of it.BEST December 16, 1895, page 387.1

Now to illustrate what I mean by the statement that the principle of the separation of church and state is not largely accepted and held by men, while the theory of it is as a matter of fact almost universally accepted: men will say that they do no believe in the union of church and state ... over and over positions are taken and things are done by them which are as directly a union of church and state as anything any Papist or Puritan ever did.BEST December 16, 1895, page 387.2

Why, do you not know that it is the literal truth that you cannot find a churchman anywhere, and scarcely a Catholic even, who will not tell you that he does not believe in “a union of church and state”? Even the pope does not believe (?) in the union of church and state. He has said so in his encyclical. Yet religio-political reformers and Catholics, up to the pope, in every position that they take and in everything they do, directly involve and carry into effect the union of church and state. these all have a theory of separation of church and state; but not one of them has any idea of the principle. In saying they “do not believe in union of church and state,” they do not know what they are talking about. It is a universal truth that every man who has only the theory of a thing—whether it be this or any other matter—will constantly violate the principle, however loudly he may profess and proclaim the theory. Nothing but the essential principles of things will ever hold a man straight, and these will do it.BEST December 16, 1895, page 387.3