Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-29


p..,,,c worship Of God In churches and
-. hs, always been regarded nat
,ooal duty and the Deces-ity 81 the STATE
q IN vi.e statesmen and thonZhtfni
.st,zen., It justly considered the 'afs-
~aard Of Individuals and powerful DE
fepse agsin.t The n-s"sing THE Of ''nm"f-
.H,v .en.gaIi.m, and other degrading
,nsnences which tend to debaaeh sociesy
and 10 create a vulgar and unhsalthy pub
t,c opinion. Purely IRON the standpoint
Of pa,riotism it il the duty Of all good
citizeos 10 aid Ia the maintenance ~ pilb-
liz Worship By their personal presence on
the sabbath, and by their p~cuniary con
tributions. No man who claims respect
ability and love for the public welfare can
b. absolved from this dual duty. 10 times
~ sas and rebellion IL IL deemed the pat
riotic part Of all who care for their country
10 contribute to the common defense,
either 10 cam ,, battlefield, or fortresst
by service Ia no tpitaIs, or other a'si*t-
ance aud saerffce- NJ home. 1t is the
danger Of the coming enemy which arouse.
these magnificent Efforts Of patriotism.
Yet. the Institutions Of this country,
all that 1. most valuable and
sacred In our h0ne., all which
mo,t tends 10 individual welfare
ali which give true life and Inspiration 10
American civilization, are more In peril
from immoral aud irreligiou- Influence
than from any armed eneiny that has ever
Threatened ~, or Il likely 70 attack ~ for
a century 10 come. A ely Ia danger from
a hostile army at it- gates or around it-
vslIs camera all IL. citiAens to ru.h TO itH
ramparts aud its defences to hold them
against the enemy. Bat there are moral
and social perils among va more 1" he
feared than ian army with banners.
They stalk insolently in our streets. They
hide themselves IN dark alleys and amid-t
the shades Of night. They come In all
places where men and women forget God
Who made them, Christ who died for them,
aud the self-respect, the regard for good
morals and gooo manners which are TUE
need Of all. Against these evils the
churches In service on the Sabbath are
strong fortresses. The Influences. the
agencies, which 90 out from these temples
OF worship operate as powerful police
force for the maintenance Of public order.
IL Ia the plain duty Of all to help maintain
these public guardians M much a. II IA TO
pay their taxes to pay the salaries Of sherifis
and policemen, firemen aud ntght-watch-
men lie il regarded sneak who tries 10
get rid Of the taxes which support the lat
ter. Il he any the le-s 60 II he neglects
to do his part IN maintaining the former:
One may say that he does not attend
church, therefore he thinks he should pay
nothing to its support. This il false log
IT,, mean excuse. If he does not do his
duty BY attending church ON the sabbath,
II he ya~ns, glu,tOnires, or other 'ise
uselessly wastes the sabbath hours ut
home, or at some sensualitiug centre out
side Of home, that il no reason why lie
should not aid Of his purse to maintain
public worship SO much the more
should he pay hia part to the agencies
and the effort. which tend Ia thu refine
men,, to the moral security, and the social
improvement. OF Others. Patriotism tol-
crates neither dronrs nor speaks- II they
will but carefully reflect on the subject, If
they will hut give to 1t that sensible con
sideraiion which they give to their own
susii ess coaccrna, all respectable citilen@
afford time to attend church GA the Sab
bath, that public worship Is the strong
fortress Of general welfare, that real pa
triotsm blends With respect for religion,
Ia Inspired, elevated. and mad grand by
reverence for God, the Father of ali,