Richmond County, Overseers of v. Taylor's administrators. Ringer ads. State... Robertson v. Bullions.. Rogers v. Danby Universalist Society. Ross v. Crockett.... Rounsville ads. Jackson. Rowley ads. Kimball... Roxbury ads. Commonwealth. Ruggles ads. People Runkle ads. People.... 226, 238 260 973 448, 449 975, 980 329 735 914 104, 209, 225, 237, 249, 281 380 798 444 445 7 12 217 S. Sawyer v. Methodist Episcopal Society Schenectady, First Baptist Ch. of v. Troy and Sch. R. R. Co.... 381, 382 287. 289 Schenectady, First Baptist Ch. of v. Utica and Sch. R. R. Co. Schenectady, Reformed Dutch Church of v. Veeder... Seaburn ads. Scaburn's Executor. 213, 288 102, 290 736 Seaburn's Executor v. Seaburn.. Seneca, Associate Reformed Church of ads. Burwell.. Township 9 ads. State Troy & Schenectady R. R. Co. ads. First Baptist Ch. of Schenectady, 287, 735 473 328 448, 449 23 439 217, 280-283 281, 284 442 361 289 404 188 .... U. United Lutheran Churches ads. Cornmeyer. University ads. White, executor 215, 241 746 Utica & Schenectady R. R. Co. ads. First Baptist Church of Schenectady, 288 Weed ads. Amesbury Nail Factory. Section 404 Wellington ads. Commonwealth. 1059 Wheaton v. Gates White, executor v. University White v. Braintree Whitman ads. Fisher Whitmore v. Plymouth. Williams ads. Williams Winters v. State Winthrop, First Parish of v. Town of Winthrop. Wood ads. Methodist Episcopal Church of Cincinnati THE LAW OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. CHAPTER I. RELIGION AND ITS ADVANTAGES-AMERICA FIRST SETTLED IN THE INTERESTS OF RELIGION-COLUMBUS-EARLY EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS. § 1. RELIGION, as defined by Dr. Doddridge, "consists in the resolution of the will for God, and in a constant care to avoid whatever we are persuaded he would disapprove; to despatch the work he has assigned us in life, and to promote his glory in the happiness of mankind." According to Dr. Worcester, it is "an acknowledgment of our obligation to God as our Creator, with a feeling of reverence and love, and consequent duty or obedience to Him." The foundation of all religion rests in the belief of the existence of God, and, in a practical sense, it enjoins duty to God and to His creatures. § 2. Religion is a principle implanted in the very nature of a reasonable being, and the religious sentiment is common to all ages and all races of men. No people were ever yet reported who had not some notions of religion, and who did not recognize the obligations of reverence to a Supreme or Superior Being. Though heathens bow down to stocks and stones, and to things of their own making, they are governed, nevertheless, by the religious principle, [Tr.] 2 and are moved by the same sentiments that prompt the worship of the true God. § 3. The advantages of religion in civil society are obvious to the candid and intelligent observer. Peace and order would not be guaranteed by the principles of human legislation, unprotected by its salutary influence; and human laws would prove insufficient to regulate the conduct of men, if their actions were entirely independent of this universal sentiment. The atheist, even, will admit the importance of the religious principle to the peace and security of men. § 4. The continent of America was discovered under the impulse of a religious idea. When Columbus applied to the crowned heads of Europe for means to enable him to discover the new world, he was rejected as a mad visionary, until he made his humble address to the Queen of Spain. She listened to his petition, and then reasoned that if there were a continent in the West, as Columbus supposed, it must be inhabited; and if inhabited, the people must be eternally lost, without a knowledge of Christ; and so she resolved to give the desired aid. By this means the great navigator was enabled to prosecute his scheme, and the country was discovered. § 5. It may also be asserted that this continent has been dedicated to the uses of religion. When discovered, Columbus caused a high cross to be erected on every head-land in the localities he visited, and proclaimed to the nations his faith and belief in the "Holy Mother Church," which had its members in all the world, and spoke to them of the courtesy and nobleness of all Christians, and of the faith they have in the Holy Trinity. (Select Letters of Columbus.) |