Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-25
RELIGION AND POLITICS.
Washington's Birthday Le7sons
Thoughtfully Set Forth.

The lessons apprupri te 10 the nn.
vprsary of Washugton's birthda! &crD
the subject Of u most interesting ad.
dress in the Lutheran church yesit itrday
morning by the pastor, Rev. W. H.
Seabrook. The church was crowded
and the sermon was highly praised by
all.
! "Be OF good courage and let US play
the men for our people and for the
|, cities II our God" was the text and
the speaker made a strong plea for
higher type Of loyalty. After dc)reca'
ting mere instructive loyalty like that
Of the Spartans be- said among other
interesting and profitable things: "Our
people do not need urging to be loyal.
We know without being told that the
world is better than 1t was 10 or 25 or
so years ago. We know that onr own
country Is u better country than IN the
days of Washington, than IL was 80
years ago, that during the past 30
years every step has been forward,
though we have not yet reached the
millennium. The majority Of our
people are loyal because they love our
land --many Of them better think
than they love their God for IL is the
best government in the world. II has
more people who are ready TO work,
pray aud die for IL Mt u minutes
notice than any other country IN the
world. But no form Of govern
ment can save q nation from deterio-
ration aud destruction II IL is not aided
by moral forces in vigorous operation
in society. We cannot close our eyes
TO the fact that there are undermining
influences mt work. We need more Of
the men described by Emerson as
vehicles of truth, who stand on their
own feet aud impart strength to the
state AZ well AS receive security from
IL, men who do not believe that there
is one code of morals, very strict, for
private life, another more easy for
business life and third loose variety
for political life; who count bribery
and robbery IN odious as treason and
, oppose everything that tends TO weaken
the state. This is u type Of loyalty
higher than loyalty to party, loyalty to
our common brotherhood.
1--WE get our religion from Palestine
but no man accepts II for himself until
he has tested 1t in the crucible Of his
own soul. We get our politics from
, Minneapolis, Otala or Chicago. yet
why should any man accept political
principles ready made without subject
ing them To the test Of the tOuchstonc
of eternal truthY True loyalty must
3 love justice and righteousness ard seek
to have the laws Of the nation conform
10 the just and righteous laws of God
/ IL do not plead for union Of
b. church and state, for they are eiernally
divorced but for a union Of religion
and politics. 10 many men theii
/ politics is their religion though there IL
: little religion in IL,
"In the days when the churches
were used for voting places by the
patriots of revolutionary times the
altar was not degraded. Politics nc
Q less than religion represented the nigh
est aspirations Of the people. That
. there are those who think II strange
i to speak Of politics aud religion proves
that more religion Is needed In polite,
+ for what is religion but fidelity tC
= the supreme Ruler Of nations, tC
!. morality, uprightness, Righteousness?
"rhat thero are even few who
: believe that the decalogue and III,
golden rule have no place In pnlilici
and that politics aud religion SHOULD
= never touch each other at any point
! proves the need of the constant foster.
ing of that principle Of righteousness
underlying the life Of the nation, IL
harmony with which our fnrefathers
l declared, we are knit together anC
hold ourselves straltly tied to all care
: of each Others good aud of the whole
, by every one and 80 mutually
"Teach II to your children that the
. welfare of our land is inseparably
, bound up with its religious condition,
; that true patriotism burns with desire
l to have all our interests leavened with
. true piety. The cry OF true loyalty IL
the shout, For God and Our Country.
! 80 long as moral energy fails moi
the life Of the nation will not fail. The
! healthful moral life Of the people is the
! nations power. True loyalty to III,
! nation demands our loyal allegiance tC
{ every influence that cherishes upright
3 ness and especially to that organization
D whose chief aim is the inculcation o
3 true morals and real righteousness
3 the church Of Christ"
! After celebrating on church loyalty
3 he concluded; The hand Of God is IL
4 our history and II we are loyal to Him
7 IL will be His glory 10 make of us
( mighty nation whose influence will bI
felt to the ends Of the earth. Darl
hours mag come IN the future as they
have In the past, enemies without anC
: foes within may threaten, but gather
ing around our country's altars, II We
= keep the incense burning there, thai
~ -.