The Secret of Our Power - Pt1
TimeWatch Editorial
September 20, 2016
As we came near to the end of our September 14, 2016 Editorial entitled “A Clouded Illusion” we made two important points. First, the genius of evil has agitated the societal decay so effectively, that the formerly Protestant leadership no longer protests, joining hands with the papacy, the power that has long sought to destroy the movement. The agenda that now seeks to reconnect Church and State, appears to be the call of the Protestants, when in actuality, it is the manipulated voice of Rome. The second point made was that, even more astounding is the fact that the Presidential Candidate who has raised the issue during this election, and has promised to remove the wall that separates Church and State, when compared with all the others who were part of the primaries, is perhaps the last source that one would expect to do so. We therefore stand upon the threshold of rapid movements that are soon to break forth upon the nation and the world. Given this apparent threat to the first Amendment, it is therefore imperative that we provide some history regarding its beginning. William Addison Blakely, Counselor at Law, in his book entitled “American State Papers Bearing on Sunday Legislation” Published in 1911 say the following on page 14.
“The world has marked with astonishment the un-precedented advancement of American institutions, founded, as they are, upon theories more in accordance with the principles of absolute civil and religious liberty — theories which, previous to the establishment of American institutions, had existed only in the schools of philosophy — theories evidently deducible from the principles of abstract justice and incontrovertible logic, but which had never had practical application.”William Addison Blakely, Counselor at Law, “American State Papers Bearing on Sunday Legislation” Page 14
This profound description of America is exactly what it has been. A nation of greatness based upon its protection of civil and religious liberty. The book, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4 on page 277 confirms Mr. Addison’s appraisal.
“The Christian exiles who first fled to America, sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance, and they determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. These principles are the secret of our power and prosperity as a nation. Millions from other lands have sought our shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth.” The book, Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, page 277 paragraph 1
Mr. Addison continues to define the contribution made by the United States to society at large and then asks a question that perhaps is even more relevant to today.
“A new nation, proud of our English political philosophers and statesmen of the past few centuries, who have so manfully asserted human rights, — proud of insuring to the minority their rights, was the first to free itself from the superstitious ideas which had made governments restrict or entirely destroy the rights which they were instituted to protect. In striking contrast with the older governments, America has stood before an astonished world as a refuge for the persecuted, a home for the oppressed, and the land of the free. Shall these institutions which have thus benefited humanity be supplanted in this enlightened age by the church and state dogmas of past centuries?”William Addison Blakely, Counselor at Law, “American State Papers Bearing on Sunday Legislation” Page 15
The very last portion of that paragraph is part of the book published in Washington, D. C. by The Religious Liberty Association, in the year 1911. It is indeed amazing that the question “Shall these institutions which have thus benefited humanity be supplanted in this enlightened age by the church and state dogmas of past centuries?” be relevant in the year 2016. The anticipated removal of the wall that separates church and state as has been promised by a candidate in this Presidential Election brings to the forefront once more the basis of the existence of the United States of America. Listen to Mr. Blakely as he continues in the notes on page 14.
“The theories of freedom in church and state taught in the schools of philosophy in Europe were here brought into practice in the government of a small community. It was prophesied that the democratic attempts to obtain universal suffrage, a general elective franchise, annual parliaments, entire religious freedom, and the Miltonian right of schism, would be of short duration. But these institutions have not only maintained themselves here, but have spread over the whole Union. They have superseded the aristocratic commencements of Carolina and New York, the high-church party in Virginia, the theocracy in Massachusetts, and the monarchy throughout America; they have given laws to one quarter of the globe; and, dreaded for their moral influence, they stand in the background of every democratic struggle in Europe." William Addison Blakely, Counselor at Law, “American State Papers Bearing on Sunday Legislation” Notes on Page 14
It is impossible to ignore the importance of the fundamental strength of civil and religious liberty where the existence and dominance of the United States is concerned. To those neo-cons who are convinced that America’s power resides in her military and economic preeminence, as important and useful as these might be, her true strength resides in her commitment to Civil and Religious Freedom. Listen to Mr. Blakely as he continues in his notes on page 15.
“Vindicating the right of individuality even in religion, and in religion above all, the new nation dared to set the example of accepting in its relations to God the principle first divinely ordained in Judea. It left the management of temporal things to the temporal power; but the American Constitution, in harmony with the people of the several States, withheld from the federal government the power to invade the home of reason, the citadel of conscience, and the sanctuary of the soul; and, not from indifference, but that the infinite spirit of eternal truth might move in its freedom and purity and power." William Addison Blakely, Counselor at Law, “American State Papers Bearing on Sunday Legislation” Notes on Page 14
We will continue this in our next editorial.
Cameron A. Bowen
