The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-26
HIS HEAD Is LEVEL.
Elder stone Expounds some Sound DOC
trine In Butte.

trine In Butte.
BUTTE, March 25.-Elder stone, the
Adventist preacher, delivered an interest
ing sermon at the Congregational church
this evening on n very timely SUBJECT
That of civil government, during which he
took n position very much different from
other nulpit orators. lie does not believe
in the pulpit's interference with the gov
eminent, nor does he believe that the
question of religion should enter even In
an indirect way into the matter OF civil
government.
The speaker took for his text the words
of Christ in Matt. 22:21. "Render there
fore unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars; and unto God the things that
In these words Christ has made n clear
distinction between our duties TO caesar
and God. Caesar represented the clVli
government; and rs Caesar represented
the civil government, 1t IS evident that
the duties which are due the civil govern
ment are civil duties, while our duties 10
God are wholly religious or moral. heii-
Qion and religious duties pertain wholly
10 God and are to be rendered to Tod
alone. civil government can of right have
no;hin q to do with religion, or our duty TO
God.
tary upon the words of Christ: Let every
soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but OF God the
novers that be are ordained of God"
The speaker took the position that civil
Governments were ordained of God, but
not TO force obedience to God. That civil
Government was not established to invade
our rights, but to protect individuals III
their God gwen rights. And so we reau
in the Declaration OF Independence, I'VE
hold these truths to be self-evldent that
ali men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their creator with certain un-
aienable rights, etc." Tod mas Destoweu
upon every man certain rights, anu cNi'
government has been established to pro-
tect men in these rights. 30 every man
has "a God-gIven right TO be religious OF
not religious; to act just as he chooses
freely and at full liberty, any and every
day, so long as he does not interfere viii
the equal rights of his fellow men. The
speaker was not in sympathy with Dr
Parkhurst and others whom. he claimed
had left their legitimate calling of preach
ing the gospel and regenerating the worlt
by the power of the gospel, and were en-
deavoring to gain control OF the CIV
mower to enforce obedience to the com
mandments of God. He thought tina
those ministers who we're engaging II
municipal reform, had unwisely forsakeI
that power which alone can reeenerat'
the carnal heart. Gods holy SPIRIT. ant
that il evinced an apostacy, a returning 4
the dark ages, which could result only II
an image TO that power. The elder SAT-
that il was not in the power OF the civi
government to enforce the ten com
mandments; that the civil power did no
attempt TO enforce the command
ments, "Thou shalt not KILL" o
Thou shalt not steal" ETC., as command
ments of God, but only as civil duties
That the civil power Furnishes men 70
crime, while God Furnishes men TO
sin. AS evidence that the civ
powers could not enfore obedience to tn
law of God, the words of Christ we're cites
in Matt. 5:2l-2S, and first John, 3:l5
"Ye have heard that II was said OF ther
of old time, thou shalt not kill. But sa
unto you, whatsoever is angry with In
brother is in danger of the JUDGMENT
Whosoever hateth his brother Is muI
derer," etc. The law of God Is spiritual
and reaches to the thoughts and intent
of the heart: and a violation of the law !
thought, is SIN, but not crime. 30
man may have impure thoughts, he ma
covet, he may carry hatred in his hear
which are all violations of the command
ments, but il is beyond the power of civ
government TO Danish these sins from III
mind or to punish him for them. Til
shows the foolishness of trying to gal
control of the municipal powers, TO OF
force the law of God. IL may AID IN NAL
ing more modern Pharisees and hypocritC
like those whom Christ addressed of ol'
s'For ye make clean the outside of III
cup and the platter, but within al
full of extortion and excess, for we al
like unto whited sepu chrcs, which ihdec
appear beautiful outtUurd, but are with
full of dead mems bones, and of all al
cleanliness" And so this attempt
compel outward obedience TO the cor
mandments of God, is only TO mako me
and women hypocrltes. May God forb
il, as there are too many already in Il
world, without instituting laws to man
facture them. Paul in the 18th chapter
Romans, is discussing in civil duties; AT
tho fact that he mentions only the DUH
contained on the second table of the Ia
shows clearly that with our duties TO GS
which are brought To view on tho fit
table. the civil power can have nothing
do; and as we have already stated, q
civil power does not enforce the prin
pies of the second table, as commands
God, but merely as civil duties betwe
man and his fellowmen. Ii was shov
that the first four commandments. rela
TO our duty and service to God: and ID
with these the civil power can have not
ing TO do. To defend this point, {
government of Babylon was cite