The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-24
WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.
Sermon by Rev. DIR. Marine, at CentraI-Avenu
NJ. L. Church Yesterday Morning.

At the risk of being called a pessimist or even
an alarmist, 1 affirm that we are in great need
of something in this country at this time. We
need, first of all, a profounder reverence for
God. You can not make a good state out of in
fdels. 1t never has been done, and it never will
be. Napoleon had to make religion a basis of
government. Destroy all faith and you destroy
all cohesion. Men must believe or disintegrate.
With such veneration and reverence as the Pu-
ritans had, you can found republics; and then,
with the libertinism and license of German ra-
tionalism, and French materialism, and Ameri-
can diabolism,y you can soon disrupt and break into
fragments the very best republic known to his
tory. We need reverence for the Sabbath,
not as a s~eetarian institution, but as a divine
order. There can be no doubt that such a day of
rest from physical labor-a day especially de
voted to the uses of religions one of the great
est of Gods blessings. Christian nations have
had such an appreciation of this institution as
involving the rights and interests of mankind
that they have enacted laws for its protection.
This is one of the elements of contention to-day
between old Europe and new America on the
common ground of the United States. 1t twas the
remark of that eminent jurist, Blackstone, that
"a corruption of morals usually followed the
dissertation of the Sabbath" Theodore Parker
said that the formation of New England charac-
ter, its independence, intelligence and strength,
was due to two nfuences-the observance of the
Sabbath and the Sabbath sermon. And after
his journey abroad he declared that he
should prefer the old puritanical Sab
bath to the Sabbath of continental Europe.
1t is my judgment that we need q law prohibit
ing the manufacture ard sale of intoxicants. l
am persuaded that this n~efarious business should
be placed under the ban of the law, thereby Civ
ing to the sober. law-abiding citizens the vantage
ground, instead of to the saloon-keeper. There
IS q tidal wave of lawlesSneSS sweeping over this
country, before which the courts and the con
stabulary are well nigh powerless and helpless.
The remedy is not to-day vested in law and the
administration of law; it is with the people. We
may deplore this carnival of crime; we may be-
rate the courts for their imbecility, and clamor
for a more vigorous application of law, but it is
all sheer nonsense for the people to demand or
expect a better condition of affairs until they
arise in their sovereign capacity and remove
this great cause and source of all, or
nearly all, of our crimes and misdemeanors.
We need good men in Office. Law is made con
temptible by the character of the men who make
1t and who try to enforce it. There is a sort of
conviction among the people that the stream
never rises higher than the fountain. When we
see in our Legislative halls a conelave of low, I'M
principled, INSCRIPTIONS, gambling, drinking
tricksters and demagogues, we do not expect any
good thing. They bring legislation into public
contempt and cast a shadow of suspicion on
anything they may ordaiII, although it be called
by the sacred name of law. And this feeling is
steadily undermining the public respect for law.
This is a war which our liberties cannot survive.
If we would enforce law we must keep it re-
spectacle. The onlycure for this evil l see is in
politics, as well as to pay our taxes.
But these laws must be written in the mind.
We must educate. No nation on the face of the
earth needs this theory of education so much as
ours, because here the people make the laws and
repeal them. We need a higher national senti-
ment as the result of education. This must be
America. 1t will be in anarchy before 1t can be
anything else than America. l would turn all
the engines of the public schools upon this senti-
ment. Every child should be AmericaniZed as
rapidly as possible. The spirit of Americanism
should be a part of the public instruction. Let
the pulpit perform its true function of a broad
and nppOpasciuo xrpply af nIy,aofin1 A. ao,1a -
the true principles and noble sentiment of
Christian patriotism. Let the press, one of
the mightiest of modern agencies, use it's vast
powers and grand opportunities to teach the
people the majesty of law, the true definition of
liberty and the incompatible value of our Chris
tian civilization. Not only are these things to
be retained in our memory they should not only
become motives of political faith and patriotic
sentiment-but of religious conviction. They
must be put into our hearts. These laws re-
specting the observance of the Sabbath, temper
ance and Christian patriotism must be put into
the hearts of the people. A man may hang the
decalOgue on the inner walls of his home and
still be a pagan. So a man may have the Lords
prayer hung on the inner walls of his mental
chamber. and yet forget or refuse to pray. The
decalogue and the prayer must be in the heart:
then we will have less Sabbath RESERVATION. wine
bibbing and evil speaking among the protested
followers of Christ.
The gospel has never done anything for any
man at any time that il cannot do now. 1t is
evident that we need an extensive revival of
Christianity-no of sentiment, not of feeling,
not of excitement, but of Christianity. A re-
vival that will make men better as husbands and
citizens; that will make better wives and chill
dren. If Christianity cannot do this, let us
know 1.-THE sooner the better. If it cannot
make a man honest, it certainly cannot save him;
if it can do neither, it is good for nothing. We
need a revival of practical goodness, that will
make itself felt in all the walks of life as a
mighty transforming power; that will give us
just weights and measures; that will burn up the
unhallOwed lust for i'll gotten gains-a Chris
tlanlty that will summer over" and not need to
have a man be converted every winter
" This morning all the voices of nature
remind us that the beautiful spring is opening.
The first month is here. The reign of a long
and severe winter is over, The sun has removed
the mantle of snow. He has broken the icy
letters of the streams. and they are rejoicing in
a new born freedom. Nature is arousing herself
to life and activity. The first month is a sort of
transition period-scne of the chilly blasts and
influences of the past winter still linger. But
there is a good time coming-a time of life, and
freshness, and pervading beauty. Spring has
many voices. Spring has a quickening voice. 1t
is IA resurrection period. The aspects of death
are being cast off, and the evidences of a new
life are present. The cold bosom of the earth
feels tho genial rays of the spring sun, and is be
coming instructive with life. The forest trees re
ahze the flow of healthful sap, and every branch
will soon be covered with rich foliage. Buds
and.blossoms, profusely appearing on every hand,
tell of a new lease of life in the wide domain.
20, thlnK Uhat we nave III this qulckenlng
voice a fitting expression of tho condition of the
Christian church at this time. The church has
been a little cold. The old Bible doctrines have
been overshadowed with philosophy and poetry,
and elittering generalities. Pulpit ministers
have been feeble, if not powerless, because they
have ignored the central idea of Christianity.
The icicles of a frigid responsibility have hung
from the caves all around Gods sanctuary.
Pulpit and pew alike have felt the wintry reign.
But the scene is changing-there is a thawing
out, a swapping of bonds. a putting on of new
life; many are inquiring for the old paths, that
they may walk therein. The pulpits of the land
are beginning to shake off the deadly slumber.
and are ransaeking the gospel treasure house,
rs with lighted candles, and are
bringing forth the old t~ruths-truths
that are mighty through God to shake a fallen