The morning news., 1894-10-01
CHRISTIANITY IN POLITICS
The Coming Election Furnished aSub-
ieCt for Rev. A. N. Williams.

He Discusses the Relations and Duties
OF the Christian to Party PoIitics-It
/ is the Christians Duty to Vote and
Vote IntelligentIy-Facti Poll
/ tics Should Be Eliminated-Corru
/ tion in Politics No Excuse for the
/ Failure of the Christian TO Do His
Duty-A Reference to the Lowndes
County Statesman.
Rev A. NJ. Williams preached to a
large congregation at Wesley Monumen-
tai church yesterday morning on
the subject The relation of the
Christian TO party politics" The
sub. .ect was suggested by the approach
of the state election to be held next
Wednesday. The text was taken from
Rev. HI., Is; "The kingdoms of this world
are become the kingdoms of our Lord and
his Christ"
The Christian looks forward" =" Mr.
Williams said, Ito the realization of this
prophecy and is an agent of God in it's &C
COmplisnment. The question, then What
is the relation Of a Nineteenth century
Christian TO party politics is pertinent
one. To II ! would reply first 1t is the
duty Of the Christian TO be politician {;
not demagogue that seeks to mislead
the people, but a person taking part in
the government of the country The
Christian seeks the Bible for the princi-
pies that are TO govern his conduct.
What does the Bible teach on this sub
ject! Jesus replying TO party seeking
TO entrap him on great political issue Of
his day replied; Render unto Ca asar
the things that are Caesars That is a
universal proposition ana includes all the
obligations one owes to the government
the payment of taxes, jury service, mill
tary duty, the exercise of the franchise
Paul likewise taught the Romans that
government is ordained of God, that it is
exercised through agents, that the ruler
is Gods minister"
THE VOTER Is THE SOVEREIGN.
"In a government like ours the voter is
the sovereign. As he approaches the ballot
box next Wednesday he stands as the rep
representative of God in the exercise Of
that act Of sovereignty. The progress of
humanity and the welfare of the church
IS dependent to large degree on the
character of the government. Paul
teaches that prayers should be offered for
the government on this account. The
Christian must cooperate with his
prayers and hence he must take his part
IN the government. The rights
of equality before the law and
IN the government the brotherhood
OF the human family, and the liberty of
the human mind, are the direct results of
the impulse of Christ on human society
The Christian that fails in his civic du-
ties, repudiates the work of his divine
master and the sacrifices through which
his rights have been wrought
But some make the corruption of poll
tics an excuse for neglecting its duties.
The temptation is great. When machine
men are put forward for our votes,
and even the judiciary is in
yolved in suspicion, ne feels
like giving up the work. But Jesus did
not,do So When he found the temple full
OF corruption, he did not retire to beautiful
Bethany, the home made delightful by
Martha care and Mary's ardent devo-
tion to talk with John and Peter on
transcendental ethics and ideals on dis
tant home beyond, but he took the whip
of cords and drove the evil ones from the
temple so the Christian should stay in
politics TO redeem them and stay in them
Ell they are redeemed.
SHOULD BE A PARTY POLITICIAN.
But the Christian should be a party
politician. He cannot accomplish much
by isolation. In isolation mis- best wishes
for the public good will evaporate in
empty speculations." He can accomplish
results only through aggregation. Par
ties are the condition and sign of healthy
national life. The mighty movings of the
free life of the people. Like gravity
operates in the equilibrium between the
centrifugal and Centripetal forces. so gov
ernment is perfected through the
balances of the parties In all
government there are at work
two forces. law and liberty When
they balance each other the government
is perfect. Where law alone prevails
there is tyranny, the interruption of hu-
man development, the destruction of the
best. AS a witness, take the absolute
mouarchies of the middle ages. Where
liberty alone prevails there is anarchy.
AS among the savage tribes and in the
French revolution the highest interests
of men are lost. But where there
are two parties, one standing for as much
law as is compatible with liberty, the
other far as much liberty as is compati-
bic with law, you have the stable, the
free, the happy people Now, it will be
seen that all the parties stand for the ap-
DlicatiOn of these principles to pending
issues Democracy, the liberty party /;
republicans, populists, prohibitiOnists,
the law parties.
AN ALLUSION TO TURNER.
81 present these reflections in con-
clusion:
~. Let the Christian demand a con-
science IN his party.
80. Let the Christian oppose faction as
substitute for party. A faction is where
the true interest of the country is lost
sight of IN struggle for the spoils. This
was the case IN lSS4-consequ uently we had
a campaign of SANDER. Mr. Cleveland did
great thing for this country by his re-
form tariff messages, for he lifted our par
ties from severe Jruggle for spoils into
a contest on principles. There is too much
of the faction now, but the situation is
an Improvement on the past.
80. Let the Christian stand for tolerance
in politics. Let us feel that our brother
on the other side is doing his duty to the
country as he sees it as faithfully as we
are. That was a magnanimous express
sion in a letter from the noble man who
speaks tomorrow Eight on the issues of
the day when he said: IL am glad YOU
agree with me in my position, but l am
sure those who acted on the other side
were actuated by as patriotic motives as
/ am"
Last night Rev. Mr.. Williams preached
on the subject, boy Building The SER
mon was a very interesting one, and was
a talk full of good lessons and instruction
for young men.
THE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY.