The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-11

1893.
make this demand 80 citizens. The preser-
walton of morality is the very essence OF
pure politics-as Webster states IL. The
protection OF citizens In their rights. with
the preservation and improvement OF their
morsls.'
The genius of American law ia protection.
immortality is the concern which ate ont
the heart of both pagan and papai Rome.
1t preceded the French revolution, and,
more than any thing else. threatens the lie
OF our American cIties. Without morality
there can be no religion. no stable society.
no nrm government. 1t is the issue IN In
diaDapolis CT this hour. When l began this
pastorate. more than four years ago, my
text was, Il determined TO know nothing
among you, save Jesus, the man cruciaed.,
In the spirit of that text i plead for g moral
revolution in our city government Inc
pulpit must begin, and continue. and eno'
III this name that Is above every naMo-
Jesus Christ, our Lord; and shat glorious
name covers o wide circle az all things true.
oil things pure. all things honest ana all
things OF good report. It's principle BOWS
TO no pgrtisanship and knows no snibDo.
leth. 1t is like Christ: Yesterday. to-
day and forever Lawiessness. through the
saloon aud the gambling room. 10 under
mining our social structure and sappinR
our social life. Were this pulpit silent
now. 1t would be false to the gospel. falec
to good citizenship, false to the battlefront
flags that have brought the mist
to our eyes and cheers from our lips.
As Christian citizens We justly demand q
change OF frODt-from the Mayor OF our
city. We want NO moro open Sundays.
The history of such in Europe mag we'll
iesd us to pray and strive for deliverance
from them.
"Nona believe moro fully than we. as Bap-
fists. in the entire separation of the church
and state. The church and state are both
conservative of morality. and to that end
they run in parallel linee, though. praise
God. III America they never unite. We
are members both of the church and state.
and 40 we may doubly emphasize orr de.
naGd for the publication of our municipal
affairs. 1t Is time to ask, is there a remedyi
Our text says. Law Is for the SwIess-
Let it be enforced. | read in Romans XII
that rulers are a terror 20 evil workers"
RESPONSIBILITY IN r MAYOR.
Mr.. Viii they further continued:
Under our new charter the chief execu-
tive of our municipal government Is vested
with extraordinary authority; in faot, the
welfare of the city ia largely In hIs hands.
The Board of Public Safety is filled by his
appointment. the chief Of police is like
Wise bis choice. Do they fail IN duty IL Is
his prerOgatiye to supplans them with
faithful officers. The responsibility Is upon
the Mayor. and his solemn oath OF Ohice
HI Lin W tuo UtDiObt uQCilt5 III
the discharge of his high trust.
We. therefore. have no other recourse hut
TO hold the present OF the
inayoralty accountable for the con-
gested state of our city. | arrslsn him
for the nonenforcement of the laws re-
strainIng the lawlessness of the iiquor
power. Furnishing the vioiatOrs of Sunday
statutes. and preventing the shameless
prevalence OF gambling. Were he a sub
ject for impeachment, / should. ss q cit
1zar 6amand IL Thara ia a ranleHV for fna
present situation. IL is the enforcement or
the laws by the executive authorities.
chief of whom ls the Mayor. Their non
enforcement IL tue announcement of law
iessness and the coDdonement Of crime.
With him, as culpable. l arraign also the
police judge. There is q remedy.
and IL one man will not apply 1t.
lot another be found who will.
l care not what his party affiliations be, IL
he will honestly and faithfully execute the
laws he swears to uphold; to the winds
with partisan politics In municipal
elections! Not until the American citizen
grasps the fundamental fact that our
cities should be governed OH business end
moral principles shall we pass out of the
danger that threatens US. Let it be our
firm purpose to put no man In power WHO
will not pledge himself TO enforce the laws
and seek TO better them when necessary.
This is a fundamental principle in our
anti-liQuOr league. 1t Is q time to act out
our principle and stand for the defense of q
common morality. 10 do less than this
II More to Than fs xs rs Of G n sss ns.os d saS
preservation of the home wrapped
mp in the maintenance of law and
order. Further than we can trace
is the influence for good that flows from
the maintenance of the Sunday statutes.
Greater than We see is the salvation OF
souls involved in the protection afforded
against the encrOaohment of immoral
forces. in the first epistle of Paul to
Timothy. second chapter. we are exhorted
to pray for those IN authority Whyf
That we may lead q quiet n psaceable
lite. In all goodness and honesty Mark
the reason. For this is good and accept.
able in the sight OF God, our SavioE.'
We now have the climax of the argument,
who Will have all men to be saved and TO
come unto the know " of the truth? l
have pleaded for morality. / might with
equal reason. have plead for the Observ-
sHce of law On the ground of salvation; hut
the plea for morality leads mp to that for
tie salvation of the soul, for morality Is
the basis of all true Christian life.
POLICE PROTECTED GAMBLING.
"Tne young man who has spent his last
dollar, If he has not used his employers
money, in one of tho police protected gam
bling resorts. or the young woman. alas.
who has been inveigled into the wine room,
Is further from the kingdom OF heaven
after than before such demon aliZing expe-
EfeQCe. iDOugu The Sb8to CaDuOt meuCl6
with religion. vet are we all. as its citizens,
bound up in one common bundle of common
interests. AS accountable beings with
moral natures, we cannot ignore the action
and interaction, end reaction Of things,
both civil and religious for the
present and future life. Our high
est hops for civil law is to bring
men, through the gospel Of grace, into har-
mony with the moral law that rules our
beng. To this end the restraining power
OF civil law to preserve morality is OF in
cslculsble help, bur. whatever the hope.
civil law must protect us from vice and inn
morality. Nature. history n revelation
confirm this. As citizens we are legally re-
sponsible 20 protect by law the weak, and
punish by law the unruly and vicious.
Those we elect to this duty are our repre-
sentatIves. II VIZ hold them responsible,
we ere likewise responsible that our repre-
sentatives do not mIsrepresent US nor the
laws that govern Us all. Let our principles
be measured by our ~actions and our pray
ers by our votes, and then we may all unite
in saying, God bless the city OF ~lndianapo-
lis So let it be. Amen"