The Republican journal., 1896-03-05
Waldo county is entitled to So delegates, as fol


SERMON PREAt HE'D AT TIE NORTH CHURCH
IFn 3, EY REV. g. =. MILLS. PrBlIsn-
ED BN REQUEST
Acts T.: 26. And lie made of one every
nation of men for to dwell ON all the face of
the earth.
Yesterday. the 22nd of February, was
a memorable birthday. 1t would seem as
if no new illumination could be thrown
upon the character and achievement of
George Washington Citizen, General,
President. The calm, patient, masterful
personality of him whom we reverently
style the 'Father of His Country" has
stood for so long in such a clear, white
light of history, that every important de-
tail relating to his heroic figure is familiar
to all the world. But if we do not care
simply to have repeated the proud story
which every school child in America
knows so well. yet We do feel that for
Americans of every age the recurrence of
this day should emphasize some national
lesson. Can we do more real honor to
the first master builder of onr Republic
than to consider whatever will advance
the worth and nobility of our national
character
The suggestion for the topic is right at
hand You have probably read of the
movement which is on foot for the estab-
iiShment of an Anglo American Court of
Arbitration. Already in London a com
mittee has been formed to consider and
urge permanent arbitration. Preliminary
to the formation OF similar national
committee here. committees have been
organized in several of our largest cities.
A call has Just been issued from Chicago.
signed by representative citiZers. asking
the American people for a public express
sion of opinion upon these two questions
LIST. DO we wish the governments of the
United States and Great Britain by formal
treaty TO establish arbitration as the
method of concluding all differences
which may fail of settlement by diplo-
macy between the two powerS?' md
''What is our opinion of war as a meth
cd of deciding controversies between the
United States and Great Britain?" In
this appeal it was suggested that Wash
ington birthday be made 'even more
glorious by inaugurating a movement for
cementing all the English-s speaking people
of the world in peace ami fraternal unity
and it was further proposed that the peo-
pie of every city and town in the Union, in
special meetings celebrating the birth of
Washington or in regular meetings of
their societies, clubs, churches, social
religious, or commercial organizations
nearest in time to Washington birthday,
embody their views, each assemblage in
its own way" upon the questions given
above. This proposition has had the in
dorsement of our best journals, secular
and religious, such a strong paper as The
Outlook, for example, urging its readers
ITO follow the requests of this call with
all the activity and influence they can
command
Now your pastor is not supposed neces-
sarily to speak for you in this matter, to
represent your views as citizens and pa
triots, but at least it is his very proper
function as a public teacher Of ethics to
set forth principles that appear wise and
true and good according to the Christian
ideal. Hence | purpose speaking to you,
to day not entirely along the line of
specific answer to the two questions cited
but more broadly, upon Tie Brotherhood
OF Nations, with particular reference to
international affairs which are of greatest
m oment at the present time.
England, Armenia, TuI key-in Chris
tian relation of our government and peo-
pie to these three governments and peo-
pies, respectively, is involved, as it seems
to me, an understanding of what the broth
elHOcl VI ndlltlS OuSIl always W D6.
England is the mother country, one with
America by every tie of blood, language,
faith, the representative equally with us
of noblest national ideas and ideais-how
shall we feel towards our kin across the
sea? Armenia is of another race and
tongue but sister Christian people,
helpless, suffering, stricken to death
what shall we do in the name of humanity
and the Christ for this poor bleeding land?
Turkey is the brutal oppressor, frightful-
ly cruel, lustful and treacherous, absolute
ly without conscience and such semblance
of honor even as we would wish to ascribe
to horde of primitive savages-what is
it our right, our duty, to say and act
against the unspeakable Turk? We have
been overwhelmed these few months past
with newspaper editorials and magazine
articles, more or less accurate in their in
formation, wise in their discussion, sen
sible and pertinent in their suggestions
and propositions. The pulpit has dealt
boldly with these issues, and its voice is
still sounding with well nigh uniform en-
phasis and tone from Maine to Oregon.
1t is time, then, on the birthday Of the
first great hero in this country's history,
that the American people had fixed few
simple, definite principles of the brother
hood of nations, what this brotherhood