The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-25
THE TRUE PATRIOTS RELIGION.
An Illinois Correspondent Gives His Views
Upon 1t.

An Illinois Correspondent Gives His Views
Upon 1t.
Dear Brother Patriots:
Patriotism is defined by Webster to be
"the characteristic of good citizen: the
noblest passion that animated man in
the character of citizen DR.. Parkhurst
of New York is reported to nave said,
''That true Patriot is a true Christian"
If the terms patriotism and chris
tian" mean anything, they mean a mans
zeal and honest, sincere and practical
love for the interest of his fellowman
or associate citizens, in accord with the
Golden Rule, that "as We do to the least
of the Brethren" so do We to the Gre
alive Spirit" whom we call God. Love of
country, or love for the Great Spirit of
wisdom and justice, does not mean simply
a love for the mere material things of the
land in which we live; it means an earnest
and fearless devotion to certain principles
of justice that will establish and maintain
life, liberty and happiness in the land.
Our colonial forefathers came from I'M
der various aristocratic autorcratic and
dogmatic rulers of the Eastern continent,
from various nations, races and creeds;
but they made a covenant with each other
that was ethical religious and reasonable;
the relationship under the aforesaid cove
nant or constitution has commanded the
respect of all the aristocratic autocrats" of
the world, even though the authors of said
covenant were termed heretics and trait
ors by the dogmatic councils of the
church and state'' of the old world. This
spartan band" Of colonial fathers, s'in-
spired'' with that spirit which said, "Give
us Liberty or give us DEATH" in accord
ance with divine command, established
here a New World. And since that
eventful period the new" things have
been increasing very rapidly in spite of
the opposition of the "autocratic and
dogmatic" powers Of darkness; we begin
to open our eyes and wonder, will all
things be made 'new?'"
Your humble servant is no prophet,
saint, nor Of the "holier-than- thou"
church combine, but feels about as Abra-
ham Lincoln did when he said, when
l can find church whose only creed is
love to God and love for one another, 4
will go one hundred miles to join that
church,"
Many an old pioneer and veteran "of
this new" world can sincerely say with
Judge c. B. Waite, president of the Amer
lean Secular Union, (Col. Ingersols
church, believe).
I'VE Still nave the divine teachings of
Christ. The more important of these,
though more or less interpolated and cor
rupted, have been preserved and handed
down, both by tradition, and in writing;
and unlike the books referred to, can be
traced back to well authenticated records
of the first century"
These teachings impress upon the
mind and heart, the highest and purest
form of morality. They have never been
improved upon by any theological specu-
lations After all the systems Of theolog
ians shall have passed away, they will
stand forth, shining brighter and brighter
even unto the perfect day"
the principles of Lincoln, Jackson, Jeffer
Yes, dear comrades, while we glory in
son and the Colonial Fathers, let us not
forget that the Great First Cause is
the spirit of wisdom" that inspires"
the mind and heart Of every patriot, of
every master builder of the universe; and,
also, let us not forget the eternal fact,
that as we are inspired with an unset
fish devotion to the foundation principles
of the said God-spirit, or patriotic love
Just so certain are we that our banner
old Glory,-can never go down in de-
feat. I say with Brother ]. Ripley of
Home Tennessee, ut is selfishness. lack
of brotherly love, covetousness and the
wor01ip of Mammon that has got us into
the present predicament, and the same
sins may possibly stand in the way of our
getting out"
Let us 80 to st Louis next July, with