Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-21
CHRISTIANS AND CIVIL
REFORM.


CHRISTIANS AND CIVIL
REFORM.
There is an old saying that when
things are at the worst they begin to
mend. And if that be true we ought
to be soon seeing reform in our
municipal and civil affairs. But that
reform must come through the agen-
cy of Christians, and especially Chris
tian ministers. Writers in the Romish
school have taught that the State
exists for the church; the Christian
doctrine is that the church exists for
the State, or rather for the world
as God so loved the world as to give
his Son for its redemption from ruin,
so the church is the instrument of
God for the reformation Of men.
Eye are the salt of the earth" and
if ever salt were needed to preserve
the community from fatal corruption,
1t is needed now.
There are more men who take no
part in civil affairs than are required
to hold the balance of power and de-
eide the result in every contested
election. These stay-at-home citizens
are for the most part Christian peo-
ple-contented Christians, who hate
strife, and never trouble themselves
about public affairs. The pulpit
rarely disturbs them as to their duty
as citizens, and they prefer to lei
things take their own course, rather
than take an active part in the mos
unpleasant of all conflicts, one oil
politics. But while Christians thu:
neglect their duty, the wicked are
wide awake. In this city ten thou
sand sellers of intoxicating drinks
are so many active, interested ant
INSCRIPTIONS agents to bring GU
5 their customers, followers and friends
Five hundred preachers in a city
e who are indisposed to use their in
fiuence in civil affairs, do not exert
1.-THE of the power in reform tina
these vendors of drink do in the pei
Il petuation of the evils that threate
. the integrity of municipal govern
= ment. And so solid is this powe
for evil, that many citizens regar
. the case as hopeless, and despairine
~ lie down, under the convictio
y that resistance is useless. But W
10 have seen great reforms wrougl
% when the case was far more desperat
" than the situation is now. The groun
II for confidence lies in the fact that
Is a fight where virtue, honor, and tt
'e public good are at stake, one rig
e man will chase a thousand, and tv
~ will put ten thousand to flight. Viii
II the friends of good government a
y lying on their oars, letting thin,
+ drift toward the verge of the cat
nc ract, the enemy is getting streng
ei and increasing in number. But
~ is afraid of the light and the trut
III and the appearance of an army wi
IL banners of reform strikes dismay III
&c his camp.
lie The church of God is the pow
IL. that must come to the rescue. L
Ire ministers of God are the leaders
lar the church, the officers in the ht
that must take hold of this matt
5sC 1t is moral crisis. Conflicts VIII
TO- now terminate in the triumph of
he wrong, are proofs of the demoraliz
no condition of our affairs, and the {
'ly ceeding low estate into which @
ing eminent has fallen. Reform m
10 come from Christian citizens, q
er' Christian ministers ought to be le
a ers of reform. The pulpit and
cen press should be invoked to arc
as the sensibilities of the people,
lhy quicken the conscience of Christia
'te' and to enlighten them as to their du
mas The subject is not in any way all
n with party politics. 1t concerns L
the of all parties alike, while it is
en- above it, and lays hold of the life
be civil government. Christian peol
oie instructed and aroused, might
IN organized, or associated as lea
er's or alliance to promote reform in
niciDal Uoyopumont. a leaoue