The herald., 1895-11-29
Services at the Cathedral

Right Rev. Bishop Montgomery preach
ed yesterday morning in the cathedral
from the text, "Unless the Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build
it; unless the Lord keep the city, he
watcheth in svan that keepeth it."-Ps.
1861.
The bishop said substantially: OF all
the days in the civil year this, Thanks.
giving day, should be for the people of
the United States one OF purest Joy.
1t is quite right that we celebrate the
birthday of Washington, the father of
his country" and hold up to the youth
CT the Land as model in civic lite that
visa, unselfsh, Christian statesman. 1t
is fitting to CONNIE m crate Independence
day, and recount the sacrifices which the
declaration entailed upon our forefaJhers
in order to bequeath to US the priceless
privileges We now enjoy. 1t is a part OF
the natio.iai life to perpetuaue these
memories.
But we should not be- truly loyal either
to those great principles of those noble.
patriotic hearts, did we not like them,
recognize and publicly acknowledge that
to the God of nations we owe allegiance
and gratitude.
This day is set apa:t for that very pur-
pose. The chief executive of the nation
III tuo udulo Vi anu Representing
whole people thus makes public and
solemn Acknowledgements that we recog-
nize Him as did our forefathhers and
wish to pay to Him our need Of thanks
for His beneticent providence.
1t is OF all days in the year the one
when men can forget sects and parties
and in a truly catholic spirit mete as one
people for common purpose, and holy
purpose.
There arr, indeed, few men, no matter
what be their religious beliefs, who do
not recognize that all just ami beneiicient
government rests upon religion as its cor
nerstone.
1t would seem fitting then on day
like this to review little the real bear
ing that religion should have upon civil
duties.
To express the influence that 1t ought
to exert upon civic life it is someti mes
and think properly called, "Christian
citizenship" AT least no other word en-
presses that influence SO well for Chris
tian people, for the meaning simply is
the influence that Christian principle
ought to exert upon a CHRISTIAN in his
civil relations.
We believe that the Christian faith is
the perfect expression of religion: that it
is revealed by Almighty God for the pur-
pose OF influencing man in all of his &C
tons. Religion IS confessed to be one of
the most powerful factors in the forma-
ton OF character and hence 1t must have
"a correspnr ding influence upon man
social and civil life.
The Christian faith teaches all virtues
that are exercised in the most perfect So
ciety, whether men practics them or not
Some undoubtedly will practice them
and all are influenced by them.
the Christian faith sal cti les and fortI-
ties the natural virtues and furnishes tho
most perfect models and also the means
of initiating them.
. Truth, justice, honesty, purity. char
ity, all these are Indispensable to Just
and equitable government. These the
Christian faith inculcstes with the sane
ton of a divine command. Christian
citizenship, then, or the bearing that
Christian faith should exert upon society,
is that in all their actions, private and
public, men should be guided by these
principles. Society in any proper sense
cannot exist without them. Civil society
supposes them, and its laws are enacted
in view of them. Here we see that beau
tiful harmony and relationship wLichGoi
has established between the religious and
the civil order. Civil society does not of
necessity teach these. hut takes them for
granite d. Its duties ara to protect meA II
their equal rights, in seeing that in thsi,