Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-31
CHRISTIANITY AND Patriotism
Ne mortal Sermon before Seth williams
Post, by Rev. j. II. EcOb.

The Rev. j. H. Ecob pastor oil the Granite
church, preached memorial sermon last evening
in his church, appropriate to the observance Of
Decoration Day. The Post of the Grand Army
turned out in full ranks and occupied seats in the
throughout the city were omitted, and the large
church was filled with an interested audience.
The text was in Exodus, II ll-"And it came
to pass when Moses held up his hand, that Israel
prevailed; and when he let down his hand ANA
lex prevailed" On the summit of the hill stands
Moses, the vicegerent of God, having in his hand
the rod of miracles Below on the plain are the
| armies of the nation in deadly encounter with
powerful foe. On the hill is the representative of
religion; in the valley the representative of pa
triotsm. What connection between the two
The same as between the brain and the right arm.
This Hebrew statesman, warrior and prophet stood
so linked to Gods omnipotence that when he
stretched forth his hand, the spirit Of God fell
nightly on the host-ficd their hearts, nerved
their arms; and their enemies were routed. At the
Peace Jubilee in Boston the key board of the
great organ stood at least twenty feet from the in
strument When its mighty tubes began to pour
forth their tumultuous harmony, you wondered
where were the brain and hand that controlled
the instrument. So Moses stood remote on the
HILL but by the spirit Of God he mastered the army
so that every motion of his hand was answered by
the organ shout of battle. "God is the unity OF
every nation" In prosperity or in adversely the
heart of the nation lnstinctively turns to God.
This is true of savage civilized nations. We
as nation claim a peculiarly marked religious
history. Our fathers came to these shores for the
express purpose of worshipping God in freedom.
They fought to maintain religious principles.
They contended for great truths. The deadly
thrust Of the bayonet was backed by q solemn
Amen" The nations just wrath uttered itself
as naturally in bullets and cannon balls, black
cloud utters itself in thunder and lightning and
hail We acknowledge God as the author Of our
| F. a 81. IS,
al justice, the avenger Of national sins. In this
solemn service Of commemoration we by common
consent deem it fitting to come to the house of
God and acknowledge Him as the author of victory
the source Of patriotism.
The preacher said he would ask his hearers to
look into the theme suggested-"The relations Of
patriotism to religion" Patriotism is not simply
love Of our native land. 1t is not patriotism to
talk and sing of our rocks and hills. 1t is not
self sh partzan principle devoting itself TO our
country simply because it is our country. This is
the kind that deals in great swelling words about
national honor and national glory Roman was
patriotic because he loved Rome, and hated the
rest of the world; Frenchman is patriotic be-
cause he loves France, and hates Germany. No
nation on the globe is moved by so intense
national feeling France, yet no nation is go
utterly devoid of true patti iotism.
What is true patriotism 1t is love OF our coun-
try, because our country embOdies great and love-
able principles; represents justice and freedom.
If YOU find yourself citizen under d spOtism you
are not bound to love your country; you are to
hate it. The only light you have left is the awful
right of revolution. lou are bound to resist
tional sin, as Well individual sin. If your
country so far Incorporates gigantic injustice as
to become one with it, then you to rise up and
shake off love of country as leprous garment.
You cannot love that government no more than you
can love & corpse-it is body without soul.
But when the great principles of justice and free
dom enter into this organization, aud WELD it for
righteous ends, then your love has glorious
object. Upon these principles the true patriot
stakes his life, his fortune and his sacred honor.
So that every man who says, my country, my
country" is not patriot; not every man that goes
to Washington is patriot; not every man that
dies On the field of battle is patriot. The man
who as private citizen ruler, or as a soldier,
has identified himself with the righteous principles
upon which his country is established, practices
and teaches those principles, and, if need be,
baptzes them in his bood-he is the true patriot.
We are now prepared to see how religion and
patriotism stand related. The great principles
that make any country worthy OF devotion come
out from God Especially is this true of our land.
Our fundame ntal doctrine of Liberty and Equality
/ was born in Bethlehem of Judea. We take our
our Heavenly Father. The American idea Of
liberty was not born with America, but it was born
with Christ and Christianity furnishes the great
principles which become the rallying cry of pat
Iiotism. 1t stands like Moses above the host, with
one hand in the hand of God, and the other
stretched out over our country. While she holds
up her hand, the spirit Of patriotic devotion falls
with inspiring power on the hearts OF the people.
II Religion, by our sins, 10 compelled to let down
her hand, the spirit Of eowardice and panic seizes
the host. Tho two great wars OF the nation were