The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-07-05
A PATRIOTIC SERMON.
Rev. Powlck Tells His Congregation Of
"Our National Holiday"


The sermon on Sunday evening in the
Methodist Episcopal church was on "Our
National Holiday" The text was from
Matt. 22-2l; "Render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars and unto God the
things that are Gods" After referring to
the circumstances which called forth these
words and to their suitableness to the
present occasion the congregation was
asked to note that these words of Christ
sanctioned the idea that there are some
things that belong to Caesar as well as some
others that belong to God. They are
sentence of perpetual divorce Of the civil
and ecclesiastical authorities. The thought
was INDUCED by the Jews that as they
were the peculiar people of God it was
species of idolatry to acknowledge alle-
glance to heather state by the payment
of tax. Hence they ask sis it lawful'-not
is it obligatory-but is it right ITO pay
tribute unto CesarT' But although the
imperious tyrant at Rome was utterly an
tagopistic to every religious principle they
venerated, Christ, refused to absolYe them
way between their duty as cit zens and
their duty as citizens and their duty as
followers of God. AT the same time He
announced principle of universal appli-
cation to the effect that both church and
state have their own respective spheres and
that each is absolute in its own sphere the
church has no right to be political and the
state has no right to be ecclesiastical. The
reason the pages of ecclesiastical history
are so stained with human blood is owing
to the mistaken efforts Of religionists to put
together what Oh cist has put sssunder. If
the Son of God would not stand between
the diabolical reign of Tiberius Caesar and
its Jewish subjects where is the Son of Man
that shall dare to interfere with the claims
our country has upon its alien subjects? If
they enjoy our hospitality and share the
protection our laws afford let it be only on
condition of rendering to our civil authority
and institutions that which belongs to them.
The cry of America for Americans is
most wholesome one when we understand
by Americans those who are Americans in
allegiance and sympathy. 1t ought not,
however, to be question as to whether
man was born in America but as to whether
America has been born in him. We have
more to fear from some of our natives than
from some of our foreigners Only those
who render unto America the things that
are Americas are entitled to the proud
distinction of Americans in its truest sense.
And this foregnizes many natives and
Americanizes many foreigners. The man
who renders unto God the things that are
Gods is most likely to render unto Cesar
the the thing that are C@ssrs. Followers
of God make the best citizens and patriots.
No man who is false to God is likely TO be
true to men. Many who pride themselves
upon their loyalty and patriotism are
wofully regardless of the claims of God.
Patriotism can never become substitute
for piety. Patriotism can never save the
country without piety. Man bears the
image and superscription of God and there
fore is, according to the Saviour reasoning,
bound TO render himself to God if he would
fulfil the measure of his duty. When the
great masses do this our country will be
safe and not till then. 1t is righteous
ness-not Democracy nor Republicsnism-
that exalteth nationi and sin-not mon
arches OF any other governmental system
that is reproach to any people"