Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-12-12

Thanksgiving day was very generally
observed in Jackson says the Clarion
Ledger. In many ways, public and
private, our people responded to the
recommendations of the President and
Governor, and very many expressed
their gratitude for personal blessings
by contributing to the relief of those
less favored.
The joint service at the Presbyterian
church was largely attended. The pas
tors of the Baptist, Christian, Metho-
dist and Presbyterian churches, with
their people and many others, were out
in force; and all the services of the
hour were conducted in the spirit of
sincere praise and thanksgiving.
Rev. DR.. Sproles delivered the dis
course on the occasion. His theme was
'The Obligations of Christian Citizen
ship" After reading appropriate Sc
lections from Psalms, Romans, 1st Tim
othy and LIST Peter, he took his text
from LIST Peter, %: 1915, Submit your
self to every ordinance of man, for the
Lords sake" etc. The duty of obedi-
ence to the laws of the land, Of sup
porting the duly constituted officers of
the government and the necessity and
benefit of law, was most ably and earn
estly set forth The chief function of
society is to protect men in their abso-
lutte and natural rights, and for the
preservation and protection of these
rights government is ordained. Gov
eminent is not an object or end-only
means. We are not made for gov
eminent, but government is maintain
ed and ordained for men.
The Doctor referred, with special
emphasis, to Astounding lawlessness-
to the general and prevalent disregard
of human -homicides, lynchings,
etc He claimed that when one form
of lawlessness is resorted to for anoth-
er, it only aggravates it. Mob violence
is not only an outrage upon the law of
God and man, but menace to society.
He who participates in hanging, or
burning or..shooting the greatest Grim
inal, who has not been condemned to
death according to the forms of law, is
himself murderer
Reverence for law and respect for
the constituted authorities is the only
remedy for these great and growing
Il hAu 10 infn hn
minds and the hearts of the people is
the great problem of our day. The of
ficers of the government, he held, ought
themselves respect and obey the laws;
the law should be vigorously and i'm
partially executed; the law abiding
Christian should enter into the politics
of the country, and not leave the SUI
preme interests of the people to party
bosses, ward and saloon politicians.
The man who will not obey law, should
not be elected to frame or enforce it.
The best men should be sent to our
Legislatures and conventions, and
should be willing to accept office and
serve on juries.
Law loving white people, he urged,
should sympathize with those negroes
who reverence the law and are anxious
that their race should become law
abiding citizens that we should in all
good faith cooperate with them and
extend helping hand to them. And
he suggested that Christians ought to
take up the duty of praying in their
churches and in our homes for our
rulers. On all occasions Christian cit
liens should put themselves clearly on
the side of law. They should attend
public meetings in the interest of law
and order; and the public press should
do its part in wise, fearless and Wig |
orous condemnation of lawlessness. |
And then, with law-loving and law
abiding citizenship, with an industri- |
Gus and frugal population, under
wise and economic administration Of
government, we will lead quiet and
peaceable and prosperous life, and we
may realize the picture of the Prophet, |
"Ye shall go out with joy and be led
forth with peace" etc.
On the same day that Or. Sprples
spoke as above in jackson Bishop Gal
loway, who was in Memphis, presiding
over conference of his church, gave
utterance to sentiments SO completely
in accord with DR.. Sproles, one could