The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-26
THE VALUE OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.
The Thoughts Suggested to Rev. o. C. Me-
CaIIecEl by the Subject.


CaIloch by the Subject.
At the Plymouth Congregational Church yes
terday Rev O. McCulIoch preached from Acts
xxi, % But was frseborn," saying Paul
was prisoner in the hands of the chief captain
of the Castle of Antonio. Wishing to know the
cause Of the excitement of the people the captain
was about to examine him under torture by
scourgng. Bound to pillar and with his back
already barred to the VI p, Paul said to the cen
turion, rs it lawful for you to seOurge a man
that is Roman and une0ndemned| The cen
turion hurriedly told the captain, Take heed
what thou doest for this man is a Roman" Art
thou a Roman!7 "Yes.' He could scarcely be-
lieve that this jew poor as he was, could have
attained citizenship. He himself was Greek,
Syrian who had bought the franchise. But /
vas freeborn," said Paul. Thus, in a moment.
this despised criminal was greater than ceutur-
ion or captain. Even in those degenerate days
no one might harm Roman. The awful mai es-
ty of Roman law was thrown about him. All
tn sanctity of Roman institutions protected
him. The name Rome was Synonymous with
justice. 'To be Roman was greater than king.
To protect her citizens Rome had undertaken
many a war. The eo4 -ence of Cicero had been
man might say, 81 inherit the centuries This
law, those institutions are inlne by birthright
You may do me no idignity, no wrong
| know of nothing that can give
us better idea of the value
of institutions than this scene. What country
can DO for its humblest citizen, far from home.
is here seen. Once during the Martin Koszta
affair, when the Austrian brig HuZzar hid seized
an American citizen Capt. lngraham threw his
vessel between two Austrian ships and threat
ened to blow them into the sky unless the man !
was released. When an English admiral was |
asked what was the event of his life of which he |
was most proud, he said it was when an English !
man had been taken prisoner by the Dey of Al |
giers, and'he had thrown his ship under the
guns of the fort, threatening to reduce the city
to ashes if the man was not released. Such,
then, is the value Of a eountrys institutions,
her laws, her government. her principles, ideas,
honor. They throw an immense shield over a
man. and no wrong may be done him, RIO indig
nifty offered.
What are institutions? That which is fixed or
settled in society-its laws, its governmental
form and equipment, its privileges, its armies,
lis executive it's judiciary; its sense Of justice
and of honor; all that fine invisible order that
grows up and guarantees to every one all the
privileges essential to happy life. So too, all
that protects and secures his higher life belongs
to a country's religious institutions The Both
of May is sacred to the memory Of those who
died for their country in the late war.
Upon their graves, and upon other graves
will be spoken take no pleasure in mournful
marbles They are not there; but it is In keep
ing alive the memory of tho dead that the life of
the living is insured. As hope leads US into the
future, so memory takes unto the graves of our
dead If no memory then no gratitude val
uaton of the great eternal principle these died
for; no study of history A nation that keeps
green its graves: which is proud of It's past; will
strive to keep intaetlts great principles For what
did these men diet For what did others suffer
do others suffer now! For what did womens
checks grow pale and their hearts stop beatings
Consciously or unconscioUsy, that our children
might ask. where any wrong was done them at
home OF abroad: rs it Lawful 10 Do this to me!
am an American was free -bern." Each man
was set to defend our institutions, and each man
felt it. II not the land OF broad acres 10 was
not men, women, but the laws, the government,
the justice, the honor the religion of the coun-
try that was attacked. 1t was this which made
the distinction between revolution and rebel
lion. A revolution is great change III form of
governments a principle is involved.
The central idea of the revolution
of l716 was mo taxation without representa-
ton" 1t was no declaration of Independence,
but the insistapoe upon great principle. But the
rebellion OF 1861 was no revolution, it was an
attack upon institutions. Thus has grown up
i'll this country, slowly, certain institutions.
Some of them are written down in laws; others
are embodied in government, and others are I'M
written. They are the rights the privileges the
duties, the honor the justice of tho country
And each boy or girl says l. am freedom and
am entitled to protection and justice.
Such Institutions are a Mation's treasures.
They are like the honor Of woman, sacred
mast be beyond suspicion. They are 0e product
OF the centuries. They represent the primal
thoughts of the best men FheY have been
trusted by dying men and women. They have
been vet by the tears of some, an
9inted by the blood Of others And
this is their value-that each one may
appeal to them and say: Il am free born"
and any tTifing with them is fraught with dam