The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-09

Ily, so zea!ously and SO iunderstantllnplp
III the spirit OF humiliation and vet UNI
the Father. sS 81
You could not respect inc II 4 were
guilty OF this presumption; but as your
felow-citizen,a trusted by you, enjoying
| as do the bestowalsof your confidence
In matters pertaining to your civil gov
| eminent, I venture to call your attention
10 your duty as citizens.
THE SACRED BALLOT.
The great instrument placed IN your
you recognize your duty, your sacred
duty, as individual citizens in the use
or the ballot so stands or falls your
country. II you permit your wiiims.
your tancies, your passions or your pre-
JUDGES or your personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TO control you in the use Of the ballot.
you are false to the trust confided to you
and In this falsity you are treacherous
TO your God, for your country is His
ior Ills glory. even as you are His for
Ills glory. for you are your country
You cannot escape this great, this fear
ful responsibility
Therefore, my fellow -citizens, you of
the Young Mems Christian Association
OF Norfolk, I would admon;sh you. not
rauntingly, not as one free from the
temptations which beset you in the per-
formance Of this high duty, but as your
humble fellow citizen, feeling his own
weakness. that you stand by your con-
sciences In the use Of the ballot; use
your moral judgment in the conduct Of
your citizenship for in this alone can YOU
hope to receive the blessed assure nee of
work well done, duty well performed in
this field of action to which you are as
suredly called and which you cannot
slight nor despise, nor think yourself
TO good to labor in, or the field too bad
and YET be true to your Christian duty.
The worse the condition or the field and
the ch aracter Of the laborers therein the
greater rea son why good men should en-
ter therein
It is 20 the young men that would
particularly address myself. The old
are passing away, and must soon lay
down the burden. You are coming on,
and must take their places To YOU
must fall the whole fabric of govern
ment. appeal TO you to take it up in
all seriousness. and bear It with all be-
coming dignity, not for the sordid mo-
tive Of what there may be lin 1t" for you
III the base sense of personal enrichment.
but rather that this glorious inheritance
of ours may indeed not be blotted from
the face of the earth III righteous indig-
nation
Let your citizenship be hedged about
by an abiding sense Of duty. knowing
that responsibility Of government begins
with the Individual citizen and spreads
thence outward and upward to the State,
ana so to the nat ton, and To high Heaven
itself. Ell
If your city government be pure, your
State government Will be pure. and so
your national government will be pure.
But If the source of government be pol
luted. the whole stream Of government
will be like unto it, and you who are the
source. you. the individual citizen, will
be primarily responsible for it,
See to 1t, therefore, that your city be
pure, and to this end be you yours elves
as citizens pure In your citizenship.
consistency In your conduct as citi-
Zens is absolutely essential, If you would
accomplish ultimate good. TO return to
that which YOU have for righteous and
Just reasons discarded, Is not manly
New danger; may confront you, the easy
solution or which may seem to be the
turning back upon the road Of right gov
eminent but against this would warn
you, for 1t can but result in confusion
dlsheartening to good men and giving
new courage to the corrupt. If treach-
cry has displayed itself In the instru-
ment you have trusted, discard it, and
forever. Honor not again the high
prizes: who have polluted the altar with
unholy sacrifice.
! speak to YOU my convictions.
THE CHURCH AND STATE.
The Church and the State, working
together in harmony, each In lis own
appointed sphere OF action, is but the
even movement upon parallel lines
which cannot and should not conflict, Of
Gods chosen instruments for the ad-
vancement Of His people here and their
final perfection when they shall have ar
rived al that great high goal which is
the ultimate aim Of life, If life be worth
anything.
But will not detain you longer, Mr..
President. ladies and gentlemen T
thank You for your consideration, for
the esteem implied in your invitation to
SIT with You here to-day, and for the
contidence which, III your own minds,
JUSTIFIED YOU in asking me TO address
YOU | consider this a compliment ex-
tended the city government and in it's
name again thank you, and again /
say, that feel do but express the SEN
timent OF the city government in all its
branches legislative, judicial, and adj
mlnlstrative, in asserting that they are
with the Christian and 1aw-abIdng SEN
tlment OF this community Of wha tever
religious faith, and they hope that this
sentiment. regardless OF creed, may be
with them i'll mutual support and help
fulness in bearing the burdens Of re-
sponsibillty resting upon Ills.
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
at the conclusion Of the Mayors adj
dress. which was warmly received, Sc
lection was rendered by the Boys Choir,
after which the new president. Mi.
Robert TAFT, was introduced and made q
short talk, pledging himseg and The
association to renewed efforts for the
year before them.