The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-26
CHRISTIANS DUTY TO SOCIETY.
Rev. N. A. Hyde's Vigorous Appeal for En-
forcement of the Law.

of his discourse that was very timely in
view Of recent developments-the enforcement
of the law-his subject being "The Christians
Duty to Society" His text was Psalms 1871 i,
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen
waketh in vain" He said:
The Christian ought to be pre- -eminently
good citizen. He ought to exert his influence IN
favor of law and ORDER he ought 10 work wisely
and earnestly for ahe suppression OF social evils
that corrupt public morals, that harm the peace
and prosperity of families, that lead youth
astlay and increase the burdens of the poor.
There are some things in the present state OF
public affairs that call for attention to this sub
iect. We have had fearful warning of late
in sister city of the dangerous influences that
are at work in our modern society, which may
develop elsewhere as they did there, IN riot
and appalling destruction of life and property.
Such outbuPsts of the worst elements are signs
of the existence of radical evils in the social life
of the day, which ought to be exposed or coun-
terRcted. The thing that appears on the surface
is the general laxity of the law. Crime stands IN
less fear of punishment than 1t ever did. Muir
ders have increased and executions have dimin-
minished. State and municipal laws
governing the sale of intoxicating liquor, the
observance of the Sabbath, are violated so con-
stantly and openly that the sense ofthesacredness
and authority of law is greatly weakened.
Then another fact patent to all, is the eneroaeh-
ment of business and pleasure on our sacred day
of rest In many departments OF labor the
working man Is losing MS rebludy' II Is
so to great extent among railroad
employees in newspaper offices and many
manufactures The liquor traffic is more
and more arrogant The sporting fra
ternity join in the common assault
upon the quiet and rest of the Sabbath. If these
things are allowed, if saloons and theaters shall
have their own way, as they have had in Cincin-
natl, we may expect to come to the same low
level of decentralization reached by the queen
City. We may expect the enforcement of right
eous law to be met with sneer. Good mon, who
think the old days of quiet and church going
and closed saloons better than the new ideas Of
liberty, will be charged here, as they have been
there, with PuPltanism and blgotry
What has been the result of the emancipation
from Puritan restrantsl Even the secular press
in that city, that has pandered TO the arrogance
of the liquP traffic and the foreign element, now
openly confess that the said decadence in morals
has been broughtabout by the prevailing Sunday
deseeration and drinking. The experiment of
this Cincinnati idea of liberty has certainly done
one good service: it has shown that morality and
religion have something to do with the So
cial, political and material prosperi-
tv of a city That terrible riot, those
three days of destruction and terror were not
accidents that might have happened anywhere
They were the possibilities in a community
where the axity of the law, unrestrained saloons,
irreligion Sabbath Dissertation unblushing i'm
morality have been the dominant influences
amid which a people have been trained for
years.
To some degree these evils threaten us, though
we are proud to say the moral forces in this
city are yet strong. What is the Christian citi-
zen's duty in this erisisl
He ought certainly to take an active part with
affairs of society. 1t is a fault of too many 9th
erwise good citizens that they keep aloof from
public affairs. They are Disguised with the
strife, and personalities and eorruptions of poll
ties they dread contact with the base elements
of the community; the sight of the miseries of
the poor and suffering pains them The result
is they keep out of the way of all these things.
They will give money to charitable objects but
refuse to grapple with the work that Is to be
done. They have taste for warfare with
the evils that curse society Plainly, this
attitude is not worthy of Christian
citizen. He owes it to his fellow-men, to his
God, TO give his personal Influence and effort to
to the cause of good order public morals and
whatever will promote the welfare of com
munity.
2 Another thing the Christian citizen ought
to do is to train up his family in right principles
and right conduct. The work of building up
society is done most effectively in the homes. 1t
is a sad day for community when men become
lax in the discipline of their own house
holds. If the sons OF our best citizens
go to base ball matches on Sunday. hang about
saloons and hotel lobbies-if the children Of pre-
fessedly Christian families desecrate the Lords
DAY and keep away from the place of worship
the power of such citizens is weakened to the
minimum degree Those who will not submit
to restraint at home are not likely to regard the
laws of society. Woe to community in which
the children Of its prominent citizen are notori
ously lawless and immoral
g. Again the Christian citizens should
be independent and conscientious in
the exercise Of his political power
1t is his duty to use his vote to put
into Office righteous men, who will be terror to
evil-doers. | know our present sysem of nomi-
mating candidates practically prevents peaceable
citizens from having voice in the selection of
nominees. This work is done by the ring whose
plans are deeply laid. But it is the privilege of
the quiet citizen to judge the candidates that
ask his vote, and it is his prerogative to
give or withhold his support accord
ing to his own conscience. It is not
my purpose to advocate the claims
of any political party. do not intimate even
any preference for one or the other What do
say is this, every conscientious good citizen in
either one of the great parties owes it to society
to withhold his support of any man for office
whose moral honesty he has reason to distrust,
and whose sympathes he knows are with saloons
and Sabbath decorators
The independent, conscientious voter is the
eommunity's safety. i rejoice that this class
of voters is increasing l rejoice in it
because | believe when politicians see
this class of citizens do not advise any one to
leave his party, but do advise you to give your
influence in this most effective way, through the
ballot, for true men for public office. This is
the way to purify politics 1t is the efficient
way to secure righteous laws and have loyal men
to execute them.
a. A. Christian does not fulfill his mission in
society without always being strictly loyal to his
religion. We make a distinction between public
morals and what are technically termed
our religion. That insists on faith
in God mans accountability to God,
the supreme authority of Jesus Christ as the
law ixer and savior of men. There is a strong
temptation bearing on many Christians to hold
in allegiance this Christian profession while
mngling in the affairs of the world. This is
wholly unnecessary; tits disleyalty to our BIAS
ter; it is Withholding that influence most neces-
sary to the moral order of society. God grant
ours may be a city in which His Sabbath shall
be honored, His worship maintained, in which
business shall be suspended, saloons and thea
tiers closed on our sacred day of rest; in which
children and youth shall be instructed in His
word, and hymns of joyful praise shall be sung
by the multitudes, instead of eonyiyial songs
IrI,l,,, Rnll LIZ.