The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-19
ON SOME TIMELY TOPICS
Modern Esau the Subject of Rev.
A. /. Goodfriend's Sermon.
OESPlSEO HIS BlRTHRlGH1
The Common Schools the Backbone of a
Republican Form of Government.
M Purer Citizenship.
The Home.

morning delivered a sermon on the
Modern Esau," during which he spoke
on politics, the common schools and the
home. His text was: "Esau despised
his b~irthright." In substance he said;
"Esau was a hunter. The chase Of
the bear and the deer was his souls de-
light. He was a typical sportsman, a
whole-souled, Jolly, ~good-natured fell
low. He loved outdoor life and cared
very little for the things pertaining to
the moral life. In selling his birthright
for a mess Of pOttage, he showed that
religion was of no consequence 10 nm;
that he cared nothing for the priesthood,
which was inherent in the first born. lie
sold his right to the promised land, to
which his descendants would have been
the lawful heirs. But 1t is my purpose
to bring before you the modern Esau'
and to preach to him and about MIN,
rather than to go back thousands OF
years in history and talk about one iso-
lated case.
"Our country is one Of our birthrights.
This is our promised land. Just as Is
rael was called upon to take possession
of Canaan, so are the English-speaklnS
people called upon to inherit this land.
Every citizen should hold sacred this
heritage of our fathers, every citizen
should be a patriot, should strive to
create public sentiment for good, should
be loyal to the national government. III
I am not mistaken, some people have an
idea that ministers know nothing ABOUT
politics. But l know that our politics
are not conducted on the plane of high
morality. Pick up the papers, and 1t rs
fusion, combination scheming, wire pull-
ing and what not. And what is II Tor
Is il to create a higher moral life among
our people? Are all these combinations
for the purpose Of educating the people
-. -s44-a.-Is, 10 n g1nanar hal
lot, to a higher sense of responslDllty
i'm the discharge Of our duties? l am
not hitting at any party. A minister
has no right to be a partisan. i am
simply asking some questions. what is
the great aim Of political machines? Is
1t not TO foster 'bossism. TO uphold the
ring. TO down somebody, to get into
power by any and all means? My
friends, the man who will bride and
take brides, who votes for party rather
than principle, who sacrifices his con-
science for the mighty dollar, is selling
his country for a mess of pottage, ana
upon his forehead should be written,
Thou modern Esau.
Another birthright is our common
school. The common schools of our land
are the pride and glory of our country.
The glory Of our nation consists not 50
much in our army and navy, although
they have done Valiantly and are re-
4 lelNlnE the apDlduSt VI Aiit N'AiN aAH
the thanks Of the nation for the heroism
| and sacrifice displayed in time of trial
and danger, for the great victories
achieved by land and sea. They are
% deserving Of all the honor a CRATE
{ full people people can bestow upon It's
10 benefactors. Yet it is the common
school. with it's great army Of trained
and intelligent teachers, that constitutes
" the pride and glory Of our country
There are two great symbol of ciVillZa'
tion-a school and a loaf of bread. a
: rood loaf of bread is distinctly a chris,
= tian blessing. With the open Bible an'
: an intelligent knowledge of 1t may b'
y found a loaf of bread. 1t is not 81
where the word of God is not read ant
practiced. This may seem a queer state
I, ment, but | speak from experience an
" observation. The loaf of bread Is dis
tinctly a blessing that belongs 10
Cbrisfian civilization. In China or Rus
~ STA you will hardly find one good schoc
or one loaf of bread to every 10000 In
babitants. The common school is IN
pioneer of progress. 1t should be tn
nurse and guardian Of high honor, of
In manly conscience. 1t should be IN
fountain of knowledge and or true m'
- rality. Our public schools are the sine
u and backbone to a republican form {
a. government. Without schools we ma
70 have despotism and anarchy, but M
. democracy. He who despises the pu'
lie school. and condemns II, and pr
nounces it goddess, is an Esau desplsli
=, his hirthright.
,lI the duty Of every married man to hr
80 ~ Of all provide a home for wife and chi
III dren. Far better. TO pass by the salooi
and the social clubs and the gampii
- table and lay by a few dollars WI
which 10 build a home, than to De can
az a good fellow: he spends his mon
w - sla &c % liberal he is n nj
fellow Save your money and put
into a home: save IL for wife ana en-
~, dren's sake and for your own sal
II when Jenny Lind, the Swedish night'
gale, visited Il country she sans
castle Garden to about 10000 people I
10 song OF Beethoven and Handel ana !
at vast audience listened with breathe
silence. But when she suddenly chan
viii ed and sang Home, Sweet Home, I
vast audience could hardly control
TO self. There was shouting and waNi
,ets OF handkerchiefs and weeping. and
10. that mighty tumult her voice was lc
ore but the last word the great assent
MY heard was home.
be 1.-The ACQUISITION OF a good no
var should be one Of the first objects In Il
TIT. The homes OF the nation are It's 10
I. % resses. This nation will be strong Q
progressive as long as the people
have homes. The church will be ?
of gresslve and spiritual while people nj
eN- homes. Let us look upon our homes
n birthright from heaven. Let us mi
our homes pleasant: let the children
reared IN the nurture and admonltior
over the Lord; let II De a spot where
hem sweetest affections may be cultiva'
sold Let our homes be the best ana u'
, n, types of heaven"
Hundreds have been relieved OF he
ache and by glasses III