LIBERTY, RELIGIOUS, is the natural right, properly belonging to every man, to worship God and form his religions opinions according to the dictates of Ids own judg ment and conscience. God revealed his law to the Hebrews as a nation. His words were spoken to the assembled multitude, demanding obedience from every man. The evi # deuce that it was from him was 'given publicly to them all. Thus declared and proved it was binding on them; but the question whether they would receive it was between them and God. The adoption of it was to be their own voluntary act. After their entrance into Canaan the subject was submitted to them in a public assembly. All civil authority over religious affairs being disclaimed, the right of every man to judge and act for him self concerning them was recognized; the civil magistrate having simply the same right as every other man. This right the people exercised and thus entered into a covenant with Goa, by virtue of which the law revealed by him and adopted by them became the religion of the land. Under the old monarchies the king, arrogating to himself absolute power over his subjects, made no distinction between religious and secular things. Religion was simply one department of his government, in which his will was the only law. Thus the kings of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Syria imposed religion by abso lute decree on all the nations under their control. Thus the Roman empire made laws on the subject of religion as a part of state affairs. When Christianity began to spread through the empire the emperors regarded it as subject to their will, because developed within their territory. Generally they were hostile to it and for various reasons. As it increased in power they became jealous of it. They strove to crush it as something that rivaled and threatened to subvert their own authority. This state of things, continuing for 300 years, culminated in Diocletian's determined effort to exterminate Christianity, in which lie boasted for a time that lie had succeeded. When Constantine, having become emperor by success in war, embraced Christianity, the hostility ceased; but the exercise of authority over the Nvhole church went on unchanged, except that, being now in the hands of a friend and joyfully recognized by bishops and churches as belonging to him, it was extended to all departments of religious affairs. Thefirst general council was convened by him, and was formally opened by his stately entrance, which Eusebius thus describes: "After ad the bishops had entered the central building of the royal palace each silently awaited the arrival of the emperor. When his approach was announced they all rose from their seats. and the emperor appeared, like a heavenly messenger of God, covered with gold and gems—a glorious presence, very tall and full of beauty, strength, and majesty. When be reached the golden throne prepared for him he stopped, and sat not-down until the bishops gave him the sign. And after hint they all resumed their seats." In process of time, after the removal of the government from Rome, much of the authority over the west which the emperor had exercised naturally fell to the bishop of Rome, or was adroitly secured by him. Thus, as the papacy was established and strengthened, the governments of Europe found themselves subjected to an absoLgeM dominion under the name of ecclesiastical authority. At the reformation, when several states of Europe renounced the authority of the pope, the Protestant kings assumed the headship of the church as a department of the government belonging to them without question, by virtue of their office. The assumed power of legislative con trol embraced the very existence and organization of the church as a part of the state, and included its creed, ministers, services, and laws. Thus a national church being established in each country, they who differed from it iu religious opinion or practice were liable to coercion, loss of property, civil disabilities, imprisonment, and even death.
This state of things was one of the chief forces that produced and molded the settle ment of those British colonies in America which at length became the United States, But, although many of the colonists came to these sluires-in order to enjoy religions lib erty for themselves, none of them at first bad learned to regard religion as separate from the state. On the contrary, the best of them expected to establish a religious state. In some colonies particular forms of religion were set up, and some articles of faith were established. In South Carolina, New York, and Virginia the church of Eugland was established by law. In New England a kind of theocratic government was attempted. Among these colonies violent efforts were made to enforce uniformity. To Maryland, under the guidance of a governor who was a Roman Catholic, belongs the honor of granting toleration to other forms of religion. Rhode Island has the still higher distinc tion of granting the first state that, separating entirely civil government and religion, rec ognized in its constitution the right of every man to absolute religious liberty. This sep aration of religion from secular affairs, having been once perceived and acknowledged, was rapidly accepted in the colonies, so that when the constitution ofehe' United States was formed these two articles were made parts of it: "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any Alec or public trust under the United States," " Con gress shell make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The constitutions of the several states contain similar provisions. It has become a settled American principle, whether rightly or wrongly, that religion, from its very character, is a separate thing from civil governments; and that, as to it, all persons are equal and free before the law. The influence of American principles and practice has been very powerful over Europe and other parts of the world. Toleration in religious matters is becoming general. and great progress towards liberty of worship has been made. In France, different denominations are aided by the government; in Germany, the imperial government interferes little with the right of worship; in Russia, the public opinion of Christendom in general and of the United States in particular has mitigated the severity of autocratic control over religious affairs; Spain and Italy have been revolutioi4ized; and under the Vatican liberty of worship is enjoyed. The liberty of belief and worship, however, is not held to include the right to form organizations called religious which hold themselves not amenable to the civil government. The col onies of Great Britain possess perfect religious liberty. A large part of the Scottish church has voluntarily renounced all governmental endowments in order to be free from state control. The Anglican church in Ireland has been disestablished by law. It is still established in England, but a particular religious belief is not tow required as a qualification for any civil position, except the throne and the head-ship of a few literary institutions. In the Turkish empire, under the influence of American instruction and European diplomacy, much progress towards religious liberty has been made. And in most other countries of the world, through the power of civilization, commerce, and phi lanthropy, liberty is either positively or tacitly given to practice, teach, and embrace the Christian faith. In Austria, while there is a relaxation of former restraint, religious liberty cannot be said to be fully exercised: there are instances even of persecution.