The Newtown bee., 1897-03-26
THE BEE BUZZ.
OUGHT TO BE IN EVERY COMMUNITY A
 TEACHER OF THE CIVIL LAW.

OUGHT TO BE IN EVERY COMMUNITY A TEACHER OF THE CIVIL LAW.
 It is said that the best lawyers make 8 constant and thorough study uf the Holy Scriptures; because all good government is based upon the principles of right, equity and justice; and all law, in the highest sense, is the will of God. The end of the law is the greatest good of all. Lawmakers may err, and the law may be of none effect because public opinion is indifferent or opposed to it, but the intention of the law is the high est welfare of the people who live under it.
 Now it seems to me that as the law yer studies the Bible because the civil law is founded in the moral and relig- ious relations of men; SO the minister of the Gospel, the moral and spiritual teacher, the prophet and priest of God, ought to be a student and teacher of the civil law; because the public statutes embody the highest ethical and the deep est spiritual convictions and opinions of the people who rule the state.
 If the civil law is according to the righteousness of God then crime and sin are one whenever the law Is violated. It has always been the duty of the prophet of God to rebuke ain and crime. It is the duty of the minister of the Gospel to proclaim and defend the civil law when ever the civil law and the moral law are one, and whenever the religious welfare of society is at stake. It is the duty of the priest and prophet of God to teach the people righteousness in all the rela- tions of life, social, civil, industrial and financial, as well as religious, else the preaching of the Gospel of the Son Of God is failure. Indeed, what sort of religion must it be in any community where there is not moral stamina enough in it to enforce the civil law against the vice, crime and public abuse which make the very name of the place symbol of corruption and disgrace! How can good churchman, for instance, go on and on, praying the Almighty Lord ito bless and preserve all Christian rul- CTS and magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth, '' and still do nothing to enforce the law which is continually trampled under the feet of the lawless? If men were will ing to testify in court what they are say ing in private, there might be different moral atmosphere.
 There ought to be in every community a tescher of the civil law. The laws ought to be published and explained to the people, not simply for the sake of knowlege but for the moral effect. Many times people do not understand the nor al effect of public abuses because they do not know the law.
 How many, for instance, ever heard of the following Act?
 PUBLIC ACTS, SESSION 1895.
 Chapter CXLI: An Act concerning reports ot public officers. Be it enacted by the Sen ate and House of Representatives in General Assembly, convened.
 Section l. All reports or returns, in any re- spect concerning public finances, or the re- ceptIon or disbursement Of public funds, made by selectmen treasurer of towns, and auditors or treasurers ct cities. regularly in the line of their respective official duties, to any body, meeting, or committee acting in a public capacity, shall be verified by the oath of the person tor persons making the same.
 Section ?. Every person who shall so veri- ty any return or report, known to him to be false in fact, or which in any material re- spect Intentionally supresses or eonceals the truth shall be imprisoned in jail not more l than six months or fined not more than s.Oo, or both.
 Approved May as, 1895,
 10. o. Wright.