The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-12-16
.tiZen and The Church.
MIN DCDIJDJ Joy Rev. James NJ. Leighton of the
THE kEPU6] rian Church, Belfast Dec. 3. 1897.

FpRI T enrh n" Belfast, "a h1 pss
subject is more accuratey stated al
THUrelations which subsist or should sub
.,st between citizens and religion in its
D organized capacity, or between citizens
and churches. For i'll the United States
we have no Church under the fostering
care of the government, but instead,
churches which, like all the rest of oul
republican institutions, are at the option
of the people, to be maintained by theil
free-will patronage. The option is abso-
lutte, so far as the government is concern
ed, for while taxes are levied upon the
people for the support of almost every
what he chooses, or nothing at all if he
chooses, to the support of the churches.
What motive then has the citizen for
helping TO maintain the churches?
The good citizen is one no knows, and
tries to do, the duties which devolve upon
him as a member of the social body the
y
stands that the prosperity and good order
of the community depend in part on him,
and he feels himself under binding obliga-
ton to act his part as one OF the rulers of
the State, and a guardian of its interests;
as a maintainer and eXemplar, to the extent
of his capacity of whatever institutions
and agencies stand to represent pure
morals, good order and harmony, within
the circle of his influence No man may
justly claim to be a true citizen who
habitually is indifferent or infidel to his
public duties and privileges The good
citizen may not be wise at all times. but
he is conscientious always. He does not
advocate a false doctrine knowing it to be
false. He does not uphold bad principle
knowing it to be bad. He may be led some
times by taste or humor, but his habitual
rule OF conduct is reason. He is not likely
to forget his own material interests, but
understands that they are deeply involved
in the interests of his neighbors, his town,
his State He apprehends also that vital
relation which subsists between material
prosperity and moral we'll being. 1t ought
to be clear enough in every sane mind, that
the amount of material resources dissi-
pated IL ways which harm and degrade
charactor, and tend to lower the tone of
society, is practically SO much detected
from the natural channels of prosperity,
and withheld from the common stock of
welfare. Economy of moral resources and
wise and direct use of them, is more
closely related to material prosperity than
most people think to be the case The
wise and thrifty citizen can make no better
investment than that of putting part of
his time, and money, and moral impulses
into those institutions of his town which
aim to promote high and pure public
sentiment. AS a place of residence-yes,
and place in which to do business, the
town which can offer among the other
recommendation a pure moral atmos-
phere which induces good town govern
ment, and high moral health rate in
society, other things being practically
equal, is most likely to be selected by the
clear headed man who is on the lookout
fOr place in which to locate a business.
Schools mp to date; churches vigorous and
with large constituencies; places of i'll
repute few, OF better STILL none: harnoni-
Gus relations between the sects and a pro-
gressive public spirit, compose the best
and most attractive advertisement town
can send forth Where these conditions
subsist, crime, poverty and discord of
every kind are proportionately decreased,
ana prosperity is increased in the same
ratio. 1t is unwise economy to neglect or
be niggardly towards such organizations
as aim to leve up public sentiment. The
amount of crime and poverty is sure to be
proportionate to the moral laxity which
prevails. And poverty and crime are not
only sure to engender further demoraliza-
ton, but are expensive. 1t would be worth
the while of every thinking citizen to
compute their comparative expense to the
community, and to himself Individually,
as against what might be his reasonable
share towards supporting the organized
moral agencies within the town. If he
could get at all the items of actual cost
and waste and loss, and set them against
poverty and crime, he would find the
amount, l believe, in excess of what it
would cost him to be reasonably liberal in
his support of the organized agencies for
promoting higher moral sentiment and
better state of society. All that goes to
the support of thriftless or criminal pow
erty, and to the prosecution and punish
ment of criminals, is practically loss and
waste. No public enterprise is advanced
by it, no local interest is fostered by it. 1t
is public money and private capital de-
Elected from productive sources and used
to cover dead losses and make up deficit
occasioned by moral incapacity and laxity
This question of the relation of morals
to material prosperity may be illustrated
broadly in the case of two families in one
of which idleness, intemperance, thriftless