The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-14
The First of the Series Preached
by Rev. I. Newton Roberts.
WAS A POWERFUL EFFORT
The Subject of His Sermon Was Look
ing for a Man"-It Had Particular
Reference to the Coming
City Election.

approaching municipal election, was
delivered last evening at the, Second
Presbyterian church by Rev. T. Newton
Roberts The sermon was a powerful
effort. and the large audience listened
with close attention. The subject was.
Looking for a Man" and the text.
Run We to and fro through the streets
of Jerusalem and see now, and know,
and seek in the broad places thereon II
We can find man. If there be any that
executeth judgment, that seeketh the
truth
These are the words which Jehovah,
the omnipotent, omniscient, and all
seeing GOD. spake of old to Jeremiah,
His true prophet. Archdeacon Farrar
said that the lot of this ambassador of
God resembled that of most true
prophets. in that il was sad: but 1t was,
perhaps. exceptionally sad.
He lived in an age which, in many
particulars recalls our own. 1t was an
age of crises, Of decaying faith. of
change impending and actual. Its peo-
pie are described in this chapter as
foolish people, without heart; who have
eyes and see not. who have ears ana
hear not. And of society's upper crust
the following scathing words are
uttered: Your sins have withheld good
things from you; for among my people
are found wicked men. They lay in
wait like the STOPPING of bird-catchers;
they set pitfall, they catch men. AS
a cage is full of birds. SO are their
houses full of deceit; therefore, they
are become great and wax rich. They
wax fat they shine: yea they overpass
the deeds of the wicked: they judge not
the cause.-the cause of the fatherless-
yet they prosper, and the right of the
needy do they not judge Such were
the people to whom Jeremiah was to
minister. and such were the conditions
that he had TO face.
I'VE have said that his age in many
particulars recalls our own. And 1t
does. The people of this age seem to be
foolish and without heart-having eyes
and not seeing, ears and hearing not
The two great opposing classes known
as capital and labor. they are appar-
emily equally at fault: the one almost
as void of soul as the other; each grasp
ing the uttermost that it can. Selfish
ness seems to be the dynamics of all
trade and industry. 1t is the power be-
hind and upon the throne. seemingly.
All are tainted, from the highest in
authority TO the very meanest self,
Justice is outraged and truth is un-
sought. One reason perhaps for this
condition of things in this most favored
of all lands is that American citizenship
has been made too cheap. Every 'crea-
call itself man is allowed To become a
factor in the formation of our public
policy To sway the scepter of American
sovereignty. We have carried the cap
tivating doctrine of political equality
too far, and are paying the penalty.
Our forefathers.' as one expresses 1t,
'maddened by the insoence of heredi-
tary officialsm. placed the rod of power
in the hoodlums reckless hand and
bound upon the stupid brow of hope
less nescience Columbias imperial
crown. And as result we find the
once grand and good tree which prom
Used so much. bearing sour grapes.
But it may be saved yet if the soil
is properly worked and the pruning
knife judciously applied. IL was by
man. both the pride and shame of every
land, that this great evil was brought
upon us. And by man also must our
redemption. in this sense, as well as in
every other, be effected. Hence the
best citizenship, Christian citizenship of
this country is commanded in the text
to-night-'To run to and fro through
out this land. and see. and know, and
seek in the broad places thereof for a
mana man that executeth judgment, a
man that seeketh the truth.
1T is said that the London streets
are cleaner than the streets of any
other city or town in the world And
they are so because every householder
sweeps in front of his own house. To
purify our country politically we must
everyone of us do our utmost to purify
our own cities. towns and counties
Men are being looked for now in our
commonwealth-men To fill the office of
school trustees, and men 10 look after
the welfare of our city in the capacity
of aldermen. And IL is our intention to-
night TO point out in our humble way
ha Of . a
for and placed in these positions
''0f course. II is agreed that no on,
should have our support unless en-,
dowed with common sense and ordi-
nary intelligence. But | want TO re.
mind you that in addition to these gen
eral characteristics the men you wan
must firstly possess "A conscience. Yes
conscience of the right sort, :,
healthily active: SO acutely. yet no
morbidly. sensitive. that it shall not b,
misled by any specious reasoning. MOI
deceived by any evil example. w,
know that things are not as they should
be in this city. The days are evil. alik,
among high and low there are care
lessness corruption and self-seeking il
the midst Of us. The cartoon | saw tn,
other day in Rams Horn is q fair an,
striking representation of what is an,
has been going on in this community
III was a cart drawn by two horses
called legislation and commerce re
spectiyely. driven by being hayinl
the body of a man and the heart of
hog, with its name. Greed. writer
across it's forehead. And the whip witt
which il urged the steeds along wa
Doodle.
Yes, Greed this new tyrant. lis tn
driver. and it must be ousted. The ma
with "A conscience of the right kind vii
surely do it. Doodle can never fouc
him. whether il is presented in the forr
of money, wine suppers or any othe
form. His conscience viii sharply re
coil from what is evil and sting IL
possessor If he dare 10 yield to IL. Sc
TO il, then. that your man has con
science.
Again, our man should have
heart The term is used in its popula
sense and means therefore a warn
loving. affectionate heart. The ma
who has a heart is likely TO enhanc