Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / July 8, 1998, edition 1 / Page 16
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RELIGION /columns, events America's legacy: Free church, state BY DR. R.G. PUCKETT Pastor in the Interim Edenton Baptist Church First, let me thank the Chowan Herald for the privi lege of writing this column for July. The Herald is one of the finest, weekly community newspapers in all of North Carolina, and it is an honor for me to have this communication with its readers this month. Last week I wrote about free dom and independence in the United States in connection with the Fourth of July holiday. This piece is a sequel to what I wrote last week. Many historians contend that the American concept of reli gious liberty, and its corollary. the separation of church and state, is the greatest contribu tion we have made to Western Civilization. Nowhere in the history of humanity has reli gion flourished and prospered as in our beloved land. ' That good fortune did not come by accident, and it did not come without a price. It is true that many of the settlers who came to these shores in the 17th and 18th cen turies w'ere driven by a desire for freedom to worship as they felt led by God. Granted, they also came for other opportuni ties - cultural development, economic advancement, hard work and risk rewarded with prosperity and the freedom to enjov it. It is equally sad that many were not willing to grant to oth ers what they had appropriated unto themselves In no realm was this more true than in reli gious'matters. Of the original 13 colonies, only two - Pennsylvania and Rhode Island - had any mea sure of religious freedom. The other 11 had a dominant church - usually an officially sanc tioned one where the strong arm of civil government en forced the rules of the church, and where the church greatly influenced the decisions of gov ernment - which did not look kindly upon dissenters. For you Baptist readers, our hero was Roger Williams who defied the established church and the colonial government in the Massachusetts Bay area, and was banished into the wil derness. Had it not been for the kindness of the Indians (Na tive Americans we call them now), Williams would have probably perished in the wil derness during the winter of 1635-36. With the help of his friends, whom he had be friended and defended earlier, Williams did survive and es tablished the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planta tion. In matters of conscience, Williams wanted freedom. In matters of social order, he wanted justice. Those precious ideals have survived because of Williams and others like him who dared to be dissenters, to confront the power structures, and to pay the price for free dom. While others may have held the concept and even used the phrase, it was E.Y. Mullins in his classic Axioms of Religion (1908) who popularized the con cept of “A free church in a free state.” His insight and wisdom have been beneficial to us all, but they would not have been possible if it were not for the Bill of Rights, those first 10 articles attached to our U.S. Constitution. Amendment 1 reads in part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of A Pastor's religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” That simple guarantee is pro found in its meaning, comfort ing in its assurance, and awe some in its freedom to the hu man spirit in being religious, or not! Sometimes we forget that freedom of religion is also free dom from religion. No govern ment, no community, no reli gious institution/structure, has the right and/or responsibility to force people to worship any god or use their taxes to sup port any religious entity. In a pluralistic society, the key to survival and healthy progress is “a free church in a free state.” If we claim our rights to be free, we must grant equal rights to others. Only when one person’s conduct is harmful to another person’s well-being, is freedom to be restricted. Some would impose their brand of religion - Chris tian or otherwise - on others if they could, but that must never be in these United States. Let us give thanks for the freedom we enjoy in America, not the least of which is to wor ship, or not to worship, as we feel led. Let us give thanks for a Bill of Rights which preserves these freedoms. Lest we forget, lest we for get. _ Want to stay informed about upcoming events? Don't forget to pick up the Herald weekly. II The Dixie Melody Boys fe Homecoming for Gospel music nears mU The Martin County Audito rium in Williamston, NC will be the setting as popular South ern Gospel quartet The Dixie Melody Boys host their annual Homecoming celebration as Friday, July 31 and Saturday, Aug. 1. Throughout the past 37 years, The Dixie Melody Boys have established a firm place in the forefront of Southern Gospel Music. They have enjoyed many chart-topping radio hits, including their most recent, “Antioch Church Choir,” and they have received many in dustry awards, as well as a Grammy nomination. Travel ing in excess of 200 days each year throughout the United States and Canada, this popu lar quartet has also been fea tured on many popular televi sion programs, including the Ralph Emery Show, Primetime Country, and most recently \ LOANS TRY US FIRST, WE’RE FAST Come by or cali 482-8402 LOANS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Loans from s400 - s4_000 TIME FINANCING SERVICE, 703 N. Broad St. - P.O. Box 332_ Edenton, NC TtlflNKyOO I want to express my thanks to everyone for the many cards, visits, flowers, phone calls, prayers, love and compassion you all have shared with us, during the deep sorrow of losing our son Glen. The outpouring of love and compassion has just been unbe-. lievable. I didn't know so many people in this county and sur rounding counties knew and loved him, l also want to thank Dr. Perry, who wasn't even his doctor, and the nurses at the hospital for their wonderful support. 1 will never forget their kindness, when we needed it so. Last but definitely not least I want to thank all the people who took the time to stop and give Glen a ride. May God bless you all. appeared on the Grand Ole Opry Live. To commemorate this year’s exciting Homecoming event, The Dixie Melody Boys have invited several of Southern Gospel Music’s most recog nized recording artists to be a part of the event. On Friday evening, Poet Voices, Down East, The Pfeifers, The Encour agers and Three for One will join The Dixie Melody Boys. On Saturday evening, Greater Vision, Joel and LaBreeska Hemphill and The Encourages, as well as The Dixie Melody Boys will be featured. Both evening concerts begin at 7 p.m. In addition to the exciting evening concerts, many other activities have been planned in conjunction with the event, in cluding a Saturday morning Prayer Breakfast and after noon Fellowship Banquet. The Breakfast and Banquet will POWER WASH YOUR HOME! Exterior Cleaning Vinyl • Brick ' Decks Driveways • Wood Siding We Clean Gutters FREE ESTIMATES 482-4729 DOWNUM’S POWERWASH SERVICE r T.R. HOLLEY GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR 407 North Oakum St. EDENTON, NC 27932 482-7289 (Office) 482-7271 (Home) Hmastercraft Floor Service Wood Floor Sanding Finishing • Re-Finishing Installation Oak - Maple - Hickory Walnut - Pine Floating Floors 221 "841 8 NWFA Certified “Quality is our first consideration' RL 5, Box 788 - Highway 64 West Williamston, N.C. 27892 Hours: Monday - Friday 9*-00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Closed Sunday Edenton Motors © Chrysler nyiiuuffi 1-800-643-3878 482-8421 North Broad Sheet Extended AZALEA MOBILE homes of N.C., Inc. ELIZABETH CITY cfe BRICK CO. [=& ' READY MIX CONCRETE Aluminum Awnings • Storm Windows Swimming Pool Supplies Concrete & Solite Block ' Wall & Ceiling Finishes • Insulation Masonry Supplies • Roofing • Siding North Road Street • Elizabeth City. NC 335-2965 Edenton-Chowan Food Pantry "Helping to feed the hungry in our Community" To make a contribution come by our facility on McMullan Avenue or mail to P.O. Box 643, Edenton, NC 27932 Whiteman's Service Center Route 1, Rocky Hock 221-4547 HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7:30 a m. -10:00 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. JOHN GROFF Building Contractor P.O. Box 681 • Edenton, NC 482-8576 LANE'S FamilyBar-B-Que SPECIALIZING IN OLD FASHIONED BAR-B-QUE Open: Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. "All Kinds of Fresh Seafood Daily" Owned and Operated by tma B. Lane TELEPHONE: 4824008 CHURCH STREET EDENTON, N.C. Union Camp , '% "jjjlftSWo• P0A11o We Never Stop Making Things Better Edenton, North Carolina (919) 482-2632 For Delicious Sunday Sundaes & Treats Stop by Today's 482-2402 West Queen St., Edenton A Floyd D. Alexander President ALEXANDER Electrical extractor, me. of Edenton INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONAL • RESIDENTIAL P.O. BOX 325 • EDENTON, NC 27932 (919)402-2400 CHICKEN ITCHEN FRIED CHICKEN & FRESH SEAFOOD PHONE: 482-4721 NOBLE BROTHERS Cabinets & Millwork 221-8418 "WE BUILD DREAMS" WESTOVER GENERAL STORE DELI MEATS & SUBS COLD MEAT PLATTERS VIDEO RENTALS LIVE BAIT TELEPHONE: 482*3323 HIGHWAY 17 BUSINESS HERALD . CLASSIFIEDS... Little Ads That Are Designed To Get BIG RESULTS For You! Call Us At 482-4418 HO WAN ^JJOSPITAL EDENTON North Carolina Telephone: 482-8451 10 Blount's Mutual Drugs Family® Care 323 South Broad Street Edenton, N.C. Telephone: 482-2127 EDENTON PLUMBING TELEPHONE: 482-4555 DAVENPORT LANE EDENTON, N.C. Harrell Brothers Construction General Construction Since 1965 • Quality Work • 221-4239 both be held at the Holiday Inn in Williamston. The Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. and will fea ture Three for One. The Ban quet will also be held at the Holiday Inn, beginning at 3 p.m.,and will feature The Dixie Melody Boys and their special guests, Joel and LaBreeska Hemphill and The Encourag ers. The annual Talent Contest will be held Saturday morning beginning at 10a.m. at the Mar tin County Auditorium. The entry fee for soloists is $75, while the entry fee for groups is $100. Various prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Talent Contest, who will also perform on the Saturday evening program. Tickets for the evening con cert are $10 if purchased in advance and $12 if purchased at the door. Children 12 years of age and under will be admit ted free of charge. WDRP/ WIAM Radio will serve as the host radio station for this event. Complete ticket information may be obtained by calling 1 800-989-9377 or (919) 523-9306. Praise Temple Ctr. dedication set for July 12; everyone will be welcome The Praise Temple Worship Center dedication will be held at 820 W. Albemarle St., Edenton, on July 12. The dedication is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and join in the celebra tion. >-» «h era rr. m oq Read the Chowan Herald BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS Begin With NOBLE BROTHERS CABINETS! EDENTON, NC 221-8418 COUNTRY HOME IMPROVEMENTS For Your Complete Home improvement Needs New Additions Complete Remodeling Roofing • Custom Interiors Decks - Garages Outbuildings 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN ALL PHASES OF BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENTS TELEPHONE: 221-8325 a t» -
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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July 8, 1998, edition 1
16
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