1863 The Proposal to add Jesus to the Constitution

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

A Number of ministers and members, representing different evangelical denominations of Christians in the cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, met, pursuant to a call issued by a preliminary meeting held in the XL P. Publication Office, on the 8th of May, at 2 o'clock, P. M., in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The Rev. John T. Pressly, D. D., was called to the chair, and Eev. John Douglas, D. D., appointed Secretary. The meeting was opened with praj'er by the Rev. Thomas Sproull, D. D.

The Chairman stated the object of the meeting to be, to recommend to the respective Supreme Judicatories of the Church, about to meet, to appoint delegates to a National Convention, to be held sometime during the summer, whose business it shall be to memorialize and urge upon Congress the importance of having the National Constitution so amended as to embody a more distinct recognition of Almighty God, the Headship of Christ over the nations of the earth, and the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures.

On motion, a committee, consisting of Rev. S. T. Stewart, Dr. Sproull and John Alexander, Esq., was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting.

During the absence of the committee, remarks were made by the Chairman, Dr. Aiken, of Xenia, Ohio, and others. The committee then returned and made their report as follows:

Now, that God is pouring forth the vials of his wrath upon us as a nation, it seems highly proper that the different tribes of his people should assemble and inquire,

"Wherefore hidest thou thyself
When times so troublous are?"

The patriots of the nation have nobly laid aside party distinctions, and shoulder to shoulder they stand together, and together pour out their heart's blood for the salvation of our Government.

The wealth of the nation is offered with a generosity that commands the admiration of the world, for the preservation of the glorious Union. The political element, also, appears to be making hopeful progress. 

Is it not, then, proper that the religious element of the nation should put forth more direct effort to promote the glory of God and the good of the nation ?

The signal favor of Almighty God to our nation was fully acknowledged by our fathers in many public acts, and the notable declaration of " reliance on the aid of Divine Providence," uttered in our immortal "Declaration of Independence," proves the existence of a religious sentiment in the nation when in adversity.

But alas! for human frailty and ingratitude! When the National Independence had, by the blessing of God, been secured, and it might reasonably have been expected that, by common consent, "Glory to God" and "Equal rights to man" would have been indelibly stamped upon our Constitution, a blow was struck at the nation's peace by the omission, in that otherwise noble instrument, of any direct recognition of God or his authority, and by the toleration of human slavery.

From that day the nation has been demoralized by the promulgation of an instrument, as the paramount law, far beneath the Christian sentiment of the nation.

These two defects, in our otherwise inimitable constitution, we believe to be the plague spots on the heart of our nation, corrupting its vital fountains and threatening its dissolution.

The enlightened Christian patriot has long deplored these defects, knowing thatthe forbearance of God could not endure forever, but being early schooled toabhor any contact between Church and State, the Christian element of our nation has stood aloof until the sentiment has become too common both in the Church and in the State, that "religion has nothing to do with politics;" and the sentiment that the law of God is of higher authority than the constitution, has been scoffed at and repudiated in the higher places of our nation.

It has been well said, that all bonds designed to bind mankind together without recognizing the claims of God on the conscience, are but "ropes.of sand." We, as a nation, have, in a good, degree, been without this common bond; and hence the seeds of insubordination and disunion which have grown and culminated in this wicked rebellion.

This, and the disregard of God's command—"Kiss ye the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little" —have left us to reap the fruits of our own doings, and God has risen in his anger and threatens to glorify his justice by our destruction as a nation.

Nothing remains for us but to repent and forsake our national sins, that we may, as a nation, live. 

The emancipation policy of our government is an important step toward this; but the all important step—to amend the constitution—yet remains to be taken.

With the view of presenting the subject definitely before the Council, we suggest the following as a sample of what seems to us to be needed to be inserted in the preamble. The proposed amendments are in brackets :

We, the people of the United States, [recognizing the being and attributes of Almighty God, the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, the law of God as the paramount rule, and Jesus the Messiah, the Saviour and the Lord of all,] in order to form a more perfect union, &c. &c.

1. We suggest that, the National Religious Council be held on the 4th of July next, in the city of ________  to adopt a proposed amendment.

2. We suggest that all evangelical denominations be invested to send
delegates to said Council.

3. We suggest that a committee be appointed to publish an address to the nation on this subject as soon as possible; and also to prepare a form of memorial to the Ecclesiastical Courts, to meet this spring, and to have the same presented to all such meetings throughout the nation.

On motion of Dr. Gracey, the report was received. Its consideration was postponed with the view of securing a larger meeting, some misunderstanding having arisen in regard to the time.
That the committee on resolutions he requested to have the report printed, and a copy sent to each pulpit in the two cities, to be read on next Sabbath, in connection with the call for the meeting.
The meeting then adjourned to meet in the same place, Monday morning, at 10 o'clock.
The meeting re-assembled on Monday morning at 10 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by the chairman, Dr. Pressly. The Secretary, Dr. Douglas, read the minutes of the former meeting, which were approved. The chairman the stated that then question before the meeting was the adoption of the proposed amendment to the Constitution. The subject was discussed at some length by Dr. Sproull, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Douglas, Dr. Jacobus, Dr. Gracey, and others. The paragraph containing the proposed amendment was amended as follows:

Resolved, As the sense of this meeting, that an Amendment be adopted in substance as follows: We, the people of the United States [recognizing the being and attributes of Almighty God, the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, the law of God as the paramount rule, and Jesus the Messiah, the Saviour and the Lord of all,] in order to form, &c.

The meeting recommended that a National Council be held in Pittsburgh on the 4th of July next, for the purpose of considering a proposed amendment; that all evangelical denominations send four delegates to the Council; and that a committee of five be appointed to extend an invitation to the various bodies of Christians throughout the land to attend said Council. The chairman appointed the following committee; Eev. Dr. Gracey, Rev. Dr. Douglas, Rev. Dr. Wilson, Rev. S. T. Stewart and Rev. W. J. Reid, after which the meeting adjourned.

“The Amendment” The Reformed Presbyterian and the Covenanter Combined Series Vol I PRINTED BT W. S. PITTSBURGH: .. HAVEN, CORNER OE WOOD AND THIRD STREETS. 1863.
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