The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-09
SERMON TO POLICEMEN.
Mr.. KimmeI to the Officers OF the Law
Other Services Sunday

Mr.. kimmeI to the Officers OF the Law
Other Services Sunday.
At the Fourth Avenue Christian
Church Sunday, Rev. Mr.. Kimmel
preached special sermon to the police
men who attended in body. His text
was Romans. xiii:1: LET every soul be
subject unto the higher powers, for there
Ia no power but from God, and the pow
ers that be are placed under God"
Mr.. Klmmel said:
I'VE find in the Bible rule OF action
for every circumstance in human affairs.
From the President Of this republic
down to the most obscure officer in 1t,
the word OF God is o safe, sure guide In
all times Of perplexlty. The Apostle
Is addressing his remarks here to the
Roman Christians who were formerly
Jews; they refused to subject themselves
to the government of the Roman EN-
pire. Paul is teaching them that because
they are Christians, that in nowise re.
leases them from obedience to human
authorities whether Christian or pagan.
Let every person be subject to the
higher powers means to be good citi-
zens and to obey the laws.
This applies to the ruler SIS we'll as
the ruled. A public officer who does not
administer the law without fear or favor.
In mercy, justice and impartiality, is as
much the enemy of the State as an an
archist. All power Is from God'-this
Is spoken to convince the Jews, who
having received special form of gov
eminent from God, felt no obligation to
obey any other, but the Apostle lays 1t
down IS q cardinal principle that good
citizen will obey the law, that q good
officer will administer the lsw-'snd the
> hat 10 IL
What Is law? Blackstone says Law
IS rule of action, commanded by the
supreme power OF the State, ordering
thas which is right, prohibiting that
which is wrong The only ground of
continuous obligation to the State is
the conception Paul has of it, that is,
that the government under which we
live Is under the guiding and directing
power CT an inscrutsble God. This con-
cepsion Is the only one that will stem
the tide OF ]awlehsness and anarchy that
Is growing In our country. Then it is
the duty OF every citizen not only to
obey the law, but TO see that the law is
enforced.
I'VE elect officers whose duty 1t Ia to
enforce the law whenever and wherever
they see the law broken. The idea that
municipal officers have, that they can
take no cognizsnce OF the violation of o
law until some citizen has made in-
formation against the person thus vio-
lsting the law, Is most pernicious one
and deserves the reprobation OF all
good citizens. We don't elect city
officials to shield law breakers, and in
any instance where law is being vio-
lated and the mayor and his policemen
are aware OF such violation they per-
in than qQl ~ thau do y T. 49,.
law breaker to justice whether informs
tion has been made or not. All men are
on equality before the law.
ITO allow one person to break law
with impunity and punish another. to
make any discrimination whatever In
administering the laws, Is logically
anarchy, just as mnch as total disre-
gard and lack OF respec.for oil law.
The duty OF the policemen Ia to en-
force the laws. They are the guardians
OF the peace and order of our city, the
sym bols OF the power OF the law, and as
such deserve the CO operation and res
spect OF Gil good citizens. A police cffi-
Ger Is the protection the city offers the
citizens In return for the taxes he paws.
During the day the busy, throbbing life
OF the city is regulated by the presence
OF our police officers. Crime and disorder
are eliminated by the fact that as the
impersonation OF law one OF it's repre-
sentasives Is ever resdy to take into Gus
tody the violator of city ordinances or
statute laws.
"At night When the day is done. and
the darkness falls we submit ourselves
completely to their protecting care, to
shield us from the burglar, the lAwless
criminal Like the prophet of old we en-
quire, 'Whstchmen, what Of the night,
what Of the night?'
THE highest attribute OF an OFF ger OF
the law is devotion to duty, and without
fear or favor. Having no respect for the