Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-24
GOD In GOVERNMENT.
SECULAR POWER APPOINTED TO
MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER.
RELIGIONS RELATION 70 POLITICS.
Rather Tenrncy Discusses This sub
feet in a Practical nnd forcioie
sermon-othcr Services OF inc
sabbath.


the diocese, preached an exceptionally
fine sermon az S. Peters Cathedral
Sunday morning at high mass. There
was large congregation and the service
was one of special interest. ST. Patrick's
mass, by WIgand was well rendered
by tho excellent choir.
Father Tearney's sermon was based on
Matthew xxi. q Render therefore,
unto Caesar the things that are Caesars.
and to God the things that arc Gods"
Tho minister said:
The circumstances under which this
celebrated answer Of orr Saviour was
given were peculiar and interesting.
There were two leading political parties
in Judea at that day--the Pharisees and
the Horodisns. The Pharisoes were the
patriots-they stood for national indie
pendenoe, and bitterly opposed the en-
oroachments Of Rome. They oontended
that the Jews were stlll d free people.
and that the Romans were merely in
trudors, with no right in the country.
The Herodlans. on the other hand, were
ardentiy in favor Of the Romans. Under
the leadership Of Herod they espoused
the cause Of Rome and went so far IN
Their pardsonshlp as to violate their
Jewish religion IN many ways. As may
easily be surmlsc6. these two narties
were bitterly antagonisuc. representing.
rs they did. the extremes FL politics.
How. then. does It happen that we find
them uniting forces in this doDutation
which waited on our Lord? 10 must have
been some strong motive that could bring
ABOUT such an alliance. As matter
or fact we SEQ here hatred enooting n
union between deadly foes for the de-
struction Of n common enemy. This is
not the only instance In history Of such
strange Gnomoly. Examples arc NOT
waiting Of religious prejudice and politi-
ca expedieney bringing together parties
whose onimosity seemed irreconciIlble
WISHED DOWNFALL OF JESUS.
BON tho Pharisees and the Herodians
wished the downfall Of Jesus He had
iazon sioes WIN neither Of them, and yet
~ 80, large Following among the people.
Iney feared Him and were Jealous Of
l,ihi, hence they took measures to accom-
iHsa his ruin. And II cannot be denied
tnht those measures were cunnlnelv de-
Nlsed II seemed that the net they
spread for lis capture left no oponinc
Tor escape through its mcghes. They
prepared a question for Him 10 answer
wnlch appeared 10 present a perfect d.
icHiHlt, 50 mat whichever way lie an
swered His day Of power and populorifv
was gone. Master. tell us therefore
what dost Thou think; IS II lawful 10 Give
tIlbute 70 Caesar or n0t2' IL lie an
Swyer req, thdt y was lawful then the poo
pc who were beginning 10 regard Him as
me Messiah who was % free them from
gu their enemies would turn AGAINST
Him and their love would be changed into
nate. ne would at once lose all Influence
with the people. This the Pharlsees
knew. If. on the other hand. ne de-
CARED that II was not lawful 10 paw trf-
butte 10 Caesar the HoroGians were ready
70 oenOunce Him 20 the ROmon authori-
ties and 2 prison would have been His
portion. The difficulty eeemod hard to
lie declare?
But There is no wisdom. there IS no
prudence. there IS no counsel against the
Lord To the divine wisdom of Christ
this query presented no difficulty TIE
dilemma was not as complete as they
thought. God or Caesar they put it:
God and Caesar. He answered Turning
The tribute And they offered Him a
penny And Jesus saith 10 them, Whose
image and Inscription is this" And they
said 20 Him: "Caesar's" TTncoucoious-
~ they answered their own question. for
the power that can mint money and make
II current In a country Is supreme I'm that
country. The coming Of money is an act
o. sovereign power They had accepted
The money Of Caesar and We're using IL in
their business transactions; hence they
had accepted the yoke Of. Rome Then
he saith TO them; "RendCr. therefore 10
caesar the things that are Caesars and
to God the things that are Gods"
GOOD CITIZENS AND CHRISTIANS.
BY this answer our Lord not only con-
founded His enemies but taught Us all
the useful lesson, that we must be good
citizens as well as good Christians God
has appointed two powers, the spiritual
and the secular for the direction Of hu-
man society. To the spiritual power He
has committed the guidance Of souls: 10
the secular the maintenance Of peace and
order. and. IN the words OF the text. lie
has commanded US 10 render unto each
IT'S particular rights. All governments are
set Up 10y Almighty God. and they are
put down again by Him. "by God kings
reign and law-glvers decree Just things
Proverbs ST.. s. In some nations lie APP
points kings. In others cmDcr0rf. and ln
others pres dents but they 40 derive their
authority from Him. There 81 no power
but from G0d."-ROmana Xli. our Ea-
viour recognized this truth when RE said
TO Plate Thou shouldgt not have any
power against Me unless n wore given
Thee from above. John XIX For this
reason we owe obedience ~ The govern
nent under which we live Nor Is this
q nero matter Of choice or inclination.
thority represents the power Of God IN
the secular order, and 10 resist II would
be TO resist God Him7Gif according 70
the words OF the apostle. "iIe that re-
kisteth the power rcalstefh the ordinance
Of God and purChaseth damnauoD 20 him
ksif." Hence we must Obpy the Just laws
eg our rulers, but II those laws came in
conflict with the law OF God We could
not submit. This happened 10 the early
Christians. Submissive TO the Roman
empire IN al Just things, they refusen 70
obey when COMMANDED 10 a6oro idols.
They were not willing TO render unto
Caesar the things that were Gods, and
they answered with the apostles. We
must obey God rather than man" In Ike
manner Catholics cannot avail themselves
OF the divorce laws Of the country, for
laws She can regulate the civil effects
OF the marriage contract and all that
cenoerns property and inheritance, but
when shS laws unholy hands on the mar
riage bond she e1ceeds her power. and is
not to be obeyed. Tor what Cod has
Joined together let no man put asunder"
RESPECT CIVIL AUTHORITY.
To the civil ruler Is also due respect
for the reason already fiyeni ne repre-
sents the power Of God IN the secular
order Fear God. honor the king" says
ST, Peter, and this entails the duty OF
reverence for authority. Nor can they
consider Themselves blameless who are
continually railing AZ those IN power and
thereby diminishing respect for the gov
eminent IN the minds az the people They
are wanting in true citizenship, for they
do not render 10 Caesar tho things that
are Caesars. Nor are they either good
Christians or good citizens who evade the
payment OF the taxes, for they disOhey
the command OF their Master and oisre-
gard the plain demands ~ Justice To
the state we owe the enjoyment OF our
ffeeG9m, tho peaceful opportunities OF
carrying on business and protection from
foreign foes. and for the preservation OF
ihsso privileges the government stands In