The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-08-24
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.

Or. A. Spaugh in North State Endeavorer.)
In the May-June ESDEAvORER | at
tempted very briefly to outline Chris
tian Citizenship, and the aims of
this department in so far as they had
been formulated.
The Need of / wish now to draw
The Hour. more particular atten.
ton to what seems to be the greatest
need of the hour. looking to social
and political reform, viz. the educa-
ton Of our people, and particularly
Christian people, to the proper realtza-
ton Of their duty as citizens 10 take an
attire interest in public affairs, and to
support only such men and measures rs
are in accord Uith The Scriptures.
Many Christian people do not seem
to realize that their political actions,
and the attitude which they assume
relative to men and measures in
public affairs, are subject, in Gods
sight, to the same principles and
laws which He has ordained for the
Government of the individual and
Of the family life.
Agitation | believe that the
and Education. greatest social need
Of the hour, therefore, is agtt0tton and
cducatiOu. Reforms will never be
inaugurated until the evils are recog-
nized and laid upon the public con-
science.
The greatest social peril is not the
social evils themselves but the
criminal ignorance and apathy of
Christian people, and especially re-
ligious leaders and guardians of
youth. and regarding the needs,
powers and methods of reforms.
Our Danger DR.. Carlos Martyr
Three Idols. in his admirable book
entitled ''Christian Citizenship" says
that the Indifference and preoccupa-
ton of large and influential sections
Of our citizenship is now the chief
menace to Republican institutions.
Otherwise good men are too busy
making pilgrimages to the shrine of
mammon. and worshi ping that trinity
of trade, the gold eagle, the silver
dollar and the copper cent-to give
thought and time to the functions Of
citizenship. The need of the hour is
the personalizing of political duty
How is this need to be met? I'm
doubtedIy, in a very large measure.
by training the young people to
proper conceptions of the privileges
and duties Of citizenship.
Christ ., EndeavOref5, let us
First. determine that we will
seek to know more about the political
and social evils of the community in
which we live. of our State and our
nation. and then, knowing what and
where the evils are, that we will do
all in our power to try to bring about
the needed reforms, always putting
principles and loyalty to Christ be-
fore partizanship. We dare not do
otherwise!
Read We cannot close our eyes
Twice! to the social and political
| evils about us, and thus evade re-
sponsibility. Ignorance cannot be
offered as an excuse.
Responsibility is measured by
power. One third of our population
have become church members, hence
| and vet it is said that eve haven't
one decently governed large city in
all the land" There can be no eX-
cuse for such state of affairs We
| have the power to right these things
| if we will do it. We must fall into
line of battle and fight the foe. The
| forces Of evil are organized as never
before, and the servants of God must
organize against them. Loyalty to
'.Christ and the church" demands it.
| There can be no serving Of God and
mammon; we must be either for or
against the evils. Up, then, En-
| dcavorers. and into the conflict.
Act at Let every Christian
once. Endeavor Society have a
| live Christian citizenship committee.
If your Society has none will YOU not
take the matter up at once with your
pastor, and other members of the
Society, secure the appointment of the
committee. and report the fact to me
at once. or have the Corresponding
| Secretary do SO. In future numbers
of the ENDEAvoKEK | hope to suggest
| some things which Christian citi-
| Zenship committee can do, and the
lines OF work which it will probable
| be wisest to follow at first.
In the meantime | would like to
hear from your Christian citizenship
committees. with a brief account of
what they have done and are doing,
or planning to do. If YOU have had
some profitable experience share it
with others by writing an account for
these columns. Don't say you will
| do it at some future time, but do it
| nor.
Yours for better Citizenship.
Il. \. SPAUGH.
State superintendent.
| WinStOn-Salem n C.