The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-08
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
Mrs, Katherine Lente stevenson's Ideas of
What 1t Means.

There was an interesting service yester-
day afternoon mt Chestnut street. church,
the speaker of the occasion being Mrs.
Katherine Lents Stevenson OF Chicago,
a graduate of Boston University, and
the theological branch connected with
the same institution.
Mrs. Stevenson is the correspo ndlng
secretary of the National ". Z. Z. u,
and possesses very pleasing PLATFORM
address. After the usual devotional SER
vice with prayer, by the Rev. lsrael
Luce, and reading of the scripture lesson
by the pastor, Rev. q. W. Parsons, Mrs.
Stevenson was introduced and spoke IL
brief as follows:
'tThere is a kind of evolution in words
and phrases as i'll everything else. Inere
Is phrase that has taken upon Itself
various meanings N the past, but | trnst
that we today give it the full scope OF
what it is intended to convey. The
phrase in few words is the theme Of this
discourse Christian citizenship. AS
we look back upon the past we can trace
at all times certain degree of individ-
ual responsibility as true citizeus.
"We in these days, in looking back
~~0~N
US through The east and the west. we
have built up the union and have IS.
tablished a freedom of government and
of NATIONAL life, and as we recount our
manifold blessings we can say ms did the
apostlesPaul: Il am citizen OF no
mean country
s.God, however, has greater plans in
store for us if we will but rise to the &C.
oasion. We have gone through trying
times during the past and are today.
beses on every hand with evils. and
as Christian citizens it becomes cur duty
to remove such evils that have become
menace to the community or nation.
No true citizen has more to be proud
of than the fact that he or she is an
American, but at the same time we have
a.sslfish pride which keeps us from be-
coming a true citizen. We are SO sure
that God has called us as a chosen peo-
pie to great place in his plans anG
purposes, and on the other side we have
neglected to see the dangers that me-
mace on all sides. We as people do not
know enough of what is back of Con-
Rress ms regards its powers and What
goes to make up it's authority lhero
are many men of position and ability In
comm ercial circles that stand back and
refuse to give their bast efforts for good
government.
'sThey become SO much engrosseu
with self and self gain that they neglect
exciting their influence in the caHcuses
and at the polls. and If after election,
things do not 90 right particularly in
municipal politics, these men find fault
ana critioiss extravaganza and preach
economy to such an extent that II lived
up to would mean neglect to many OF
the necessary improvements. Yet these
same men will refuse to hold office
themselves and give our cities the bene-
fit Of their business capacities for
shrewdness.
"The troub BILE is that there is such
greed for gain in the heart Of the indi-
vidual, that righteousness does not
have the plaza in the hearts OF the In
dividual and of tie nation.
Gone of the Reratest hindrancss to the
establishment Of Righteousness is Intern
perance and tie results brought about
BIZ the liquor traffic. The saloon with
it's traffic seems to me to be the greatest
menace to NC as people.
"We shon1d by no means be tree from
all evil if tie saloons were closed, but
we should be fre5r than we are TO-DAY.
Because the saloon is the fee OF the
church, it II our duty to seek to over
throw this evil. The duty Of Christian
citizenship is to bring in better sentl-
ment, 10 aim for higher code OF living
and endeavor to change public opinion
and array it Oh the side Of temperance
and righteousness.
ssWe have, however, bright outlook TO
the future. Some day we are going 20
SO tie value of the human soul and
when that day comes we shall then en-
deavor with greater zeal to establish
righteousness and temperance through
out tho land Leeacse Of opr love OF the
individual sonl.
"Let us look forward with earnestness
to the time when Chriet's Kingdom shall
come and His will be done upon earth
a. it In in heaven, and then it Is that
men viii be raEel from their evil habits
and establishment of Righteousness in
all its fullness shall be in our midst. -