The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-05
CHRIST AND INDEPENDENCE.
REV. 4. VI. WILLIAMS SERMON ON
THE NATIONS BIRTHDAY.

The Lesson of Liberty In Govern
ment Began With Abraham-Frec-
dom of Man In His Political, Com
merciaI and Spiritual Relations.
The Use of the Tax system of the
Government In Private Directions
and the Introduction of PaternaI-
ism Into the Labor Systems of the
Country Threatening the People.
! Christ and Independence" was the sub
| ject of Rev. A. ". Williams sermon at
! Wesley Monumental church yesterday
morning.
Mr.. Williams text was from John 1872:
and ye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free" Speaking of
the day. he said:
This date is justly noted one in the
calendar of humanity. 1t should be mark
ed and its story continually repeated to
our children. 1t Is a day that appeals
not only to our national pride and strs
our patriotism, but one that should be
made to emphasize the progress of hu-
manity. This is called Liberty or hide
! pendence day. The thought that UNDER
/
our human life most appropriately. Lib
erty or freedom is one of the attributes
| of our being. One of the primary con-
dtions of our present life is the discov-
cry OF our liberty, the right use of it
as a preparation for our continued ex-
istence. The Bible makes much of this
| quality. Jesus, in this text, presents it
as a greatly to be desired thing.
Mr.. Williams said that the lesson of lib
erty in government began with the call
of Abraham, was increased In the growth
of nations, received its fullest presenta-
ton from Jesus, was spelled into the An
glo-Saxon heart, In Magma Charta, tri-
umphed In Puritan struggles, was sublime
ly indicated in our declaration of indie
pendence and the great revolution. Gov
| eminent is a necessity OF human life and
liberty When, however, it is perverted to
the advantage of persons or classes it has
failed of its purpose and it becomes the
duty of freemen to assert its prerogative
and to contend for its enforcement.
This" he said, "was the heroic work of
| our fore-fathers. The blood they split to
make this land free demands that we
should preserve that freedom. There are
dangers of the present, and it becomes US
to be vigilant that we lose not this our
| heritage. While We rejoice over the good
| of the past, patriotism demands that We
should think of the dangers of the hour
| Those forget the sacrifice of freedom in
| party facuional, sectional slavery. The
best celebration of independence day is a
| pure, an intelligent, a courageous dis
charge Of the duties of citizenship.
This much for the freedom of man in
| his political relations. Man must make a
| living, and in his attitude to the material
| conc rns of life he needs to seek for free
dom and to insist on the use of his pow
| ers without the useless or selfish inter
| ference of his fellow-man. This freedom
| can only be gained by the seeking after
| truth. All the business relations of men
are fixed by certain great principles or
| laws. When man thoroughly understands
those laws and is able to apply them he
attains commercial freedom and his life
power is increased. Some of these laws
may be indicated. Man should be free in
the exercise of the God-given duty of
labor. He Is entitled to labor as a free
| man. The past has had Illustrations Of
Industrial slavery The old feudal sys-
tenn was one; the system of slavery pre-
vailing in the south was another. There
is danger of another style of industrial
slavery growing out of the present or
ganization of industry. That is the fix
| ing conditions upon the employment of
labor that do not properly belong TO It,.
Under the plea of benevolence the intro
duction of paternalism into labor systems
is endangering the freedom of the en-
ployed classes.
another place where we ought to keep
close lookout for commercial freedom is
in the use of the tax system of the gov
eminent in private directions Such
means may prove temporarily effective,
but they limit the power of man In the
use of his powers to gain his portion of
the material blessings God has given in
| response to human labor.
| The talent of men in operating large en-
| terprises or in the management of wealth
is often enslaved by theories of the short
| sighted or the manipulation of dema-
gogues. Capital is hampered with useless
laws and the just returns Of enterprise
| are withheld. As l said, there are great
laws according to which these distribu-
tons should be made. 1t is the duty of
man to seek the truth, for this economic
truth will set our industry and enterprise
free.
Man has a higher life than as a material
producer He lives in the realm of the
spirit He is a thinker. a seer. a worship
| per. In this element of his nature he
has been restrained by external influence.
For many weary years his right to think,
to study, to worship God in his own way
was limited. In many ways the same old
slavery affects him. The thoroughly indie
pendent man, rellgiously Is not found We
lift our voices In favor, not Of license. but
of the utmost liberty. This right will cali
for great charity to those who appear to
us to be very far gone from the right.
True to our progressive civilization, how
ever, let us not coerce any person by any
improper limitations of his right. Free
dom of conscience is one great boon given
| no froadaun Of
ment which this day celebrates. Let us
be the last nation on this great ball TO
afiiict in any manner any religionist that
conforms his known actions to the prin-
ciples of common morality.