The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-22
DIR. MASON'S PAPER.

/ The regulation of city, state or Ma
ton.
2 The executive power.
with us the government is by the people,
for the people and OF the people. \ min
lister Is one Of the people and therefore
part Of this government.
The minister is first a man. Before ne IS
at all fitted for the ministry he must be
Gods man. God makes men, the theolog-
zeal schools and tailors make clergymcn.
A manly and a Cody man. the minister
must be- therefore his relations to the
civil government must be those Of a manly
and Cody man, intensified by the in
creased influence that his position as
minister gives him and by the sacred obli-
cations which az a minister Of God he has
taken upon HIMSELF Let every soul be
subject unto the powers that be"
Even under Caesar our Lord paid trih-
ute and said: Render unto Caesar the
things that art Caesars" Here loyalty ana
support are cnjoined. The government Of
ficer Is a minister TO fhec for good 10
thou that which is good. ana he not afraid.
This much is the duty Ct all citizens, AID
a Christian duty. But a minister must be
teacher of righteousness ana an eXara-
Pie to all men. As a teacher he must he
instant IN season and out of season. lie
must speak the truth boldly He must
cry aloud and spare not lie must not have
Il nan-fearing spirit. Yet he must he wise
as a serpent and harmless as q dove. The
last and only now authoritative commis-
sion given by our Commander in-ChieI
sends the minister to all nations and to
every creature. He Is to pray for KINGS
nrd for all In authority. Peter preached
Christ to the captain OF the Roman sol
diers and baptized him into the Kingdom
of Christ Paul converted and baptized
the phillipplan jaller So far as we know
both these men continued in their respect
I've positions.
II there were anything incompatible with
Christianity in being n captain or a TALLER,
assurodly these inspired mem would have
told these officers so and the Holy Spirit
would have had the same recorded
for the instruction of Christs dis
ciples, In that word that thor
oughv furnishes us unto every good
work. From these and similar premises.
conclude that 1t Ia clearly the privilege
and duty of the minister to perform any
| service to or for the government that any
manly and Cody man may perform.
II other Christians may pay taxes, vote,
| hold office, or take up arms, so may he. II
| other Christians may instruct in political
| science publicly and privately, reprove,
| rehuke. admonish, SO may the minister ns
TO his right. What are the limitations to
| this duty?
In general the same ms those of other
| Christian men. | would mention ability,
| One may have ability and lack oppor-
| tunity. or. having both the question Of
prcprioty must be considered. All things
are lawful but all things are not cXpe-
diont II somctii es happens that owing
to Tho proiudiccs of ignorant men that an
earnest advocacy of good cause Ivy the
| minister will hinder that cause In such
a case common prudence would say:
| "Don't hinder the cause" It may he that
| a higher duty, for the time will conflict
with my duty to my government In that
| case properly Instructed conscience will
| guide us Alright hut we should he careful
not 10 mistake cowardice for conscience,
nor a desire for popularity FOR propriety.
| Particular limitations may arise from
srt cial duties. a minister may make tents
| he must preach the word. lie nav be n
fisherman. Ito must he fisher az men.
/ lie may feed tho multitude with the loaves
! and fishes. He must feed the flock over
which God has made him overscor
| There are others besides tho great hu-
morist who thulS that there are, or should
Re. three seNcs-mcn, women and preach
ers. ! resent the idea as a rejection upon
| the ministry, utterly without foundation in
the lives Gods ministry, or in the tedch-
ings Of Gods word Tho minister must
contend for right, earnestly, hravoly. no
| bly,, Justly Yet he must be gentle. mod
est. humble. Not brawler. not striker.
not given to wine or filthy lucre. The pol
itician's war cry. TO the viclors belong
the spoils," will have no charms for him.
He can not he a trickster He can not
b. on intense partisan. Right comes he
fore party with a true man of God. When
evil and corruption are working ruin In
our government his voice must be heard
for the right. his influence felt for the
truth Instead of being "scourged back
into his pulpit" by tho voice OF the coward
who can not meet him IN an open and fah
discussion, he should use the scourge all
gently, severely. If need he, that the tenn
pies of justice may be cleansed.
with supreme loyalty 10 God and love
for his felow-man the minister should "a
foarlessly today that duty which most de
mands his time. Whether at the bedside
Of the sick and dying, or trying to reviv,
that citizen who Il 50 dead to his country
need that he is "too nice man TO vote oil
have anything to do with politics.
Whether taking mp n missionary colIec
ton. or taking down the signs of corrup
tiCn which car easily he found hanEiit
around the corners Of cur municipalities
whether Speaking words OF comfort to
hcart-brolSen mother beside the grave o
her hayward boy, or cXcoria,jng th'
government which becomes n partner II
tho ruin Of the hoy. whether fulfilling tn.
law of love by lifting up fallen hrothc
or aiding In the defeat OF men whose ca
gerness to take the oath OF office Is onl'
euualed by their willingness 10 violate The
same tod PITY tne uuprouS, llne-SerNlui
public pulse feeling preacher. 70 the min
lister courageous. candid, tender and tru
to every duty our king says II am viii
, YOU"
THOU ART THE WAY, THE TRUTI
AND THE LIFE"
ny each sting of daily care
Each anxiety | bear
Ry the struggles OF a heart
Ioath with worldly Joys to part,
By the inward longing love
For purer life above,
Lord. | only hone and pray
Thou art teaching me the way.
BY each band OF burning pain
, Trampling fierce DER heart and brain,
Ry each flood OF bitter tears
; bathing all lies fevcrod years.
Ry each throc of anguish born
OF forgctfulncss or sCom.