The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-23

Render therefore unto Caesar the things
wnicn are caesars; ana unto zoo the
things that are Gods" Math. xxi. q.
When Christ was asked which is the first
of all the commandments, he was not con-
tent to give the simple and direct answer.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart and soul and mind and
strength"-that was unquestionably the
first and greatest OF all the command
ments-but he added a word concerning
that about which there had been no ques-
ton at ALL and said, THE second is like
unto il. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
myself '-thus showing the indissolubie
connection between these two departments
of the one great duty, which those who
questioned were accustomed to separate
both in theory and in practice
Again. in our text, He carries on the
lesson to its legitimate and logical con-
clusion Tribute TO Caesar?" Distinctly,
yes; but that. like the question. was only
q part Of the matter, relating to one par
ticular duty only: the full answer regard
added words. and unto God the things
that are Gods.
Let me try to indicate as clearly as can
in few words What Is due TO man and
what to God. And, under the first head
the extent OF our civil and social duty-the
]. Recognition of and submission to those
in authority. Even more There must also
be loyalty to government; that Is, man
must be faithful in his allegiance, true and
honest in every matter in which his fidelity
can be brought TO the test; there must be
square dealing between ourselves and the
liable to taxation and honest payment of
all public claims. 1t is just as wrong TO
defraud the public in any way as II is to
rob the Individual, and indeed the conse-
OuenceS
worse.
A BLUNTED CONSCIENCE.
I fear that in this whole field of public
duty the conscience of our people is
strangely blunted. We speak of our rights
as citizens, but 1 fear that we sometimes
forget that our right is also our duty. In
these matters we have no bright to do simply
as we lke-our right is only the duty OF
doing right. There are many things that
are allowed, or winked at, in public life,
which will not really admit of any defense;
such things as defrauding the government,
as by smuggling goods or by false returns
of property-such things as forcing the
conscience of others, in matters of public
concern, as by bribery in elections or other
means, direct or indirect. 1t is not simply
because particular law has been made
against them that these things are wrong,
but because they lower the sense of per-
sonal responsibility and blunt the con-
science, dethrone the God within a mans
soul and erect selfshness and greed in His
stead.
Patriotism is not merely an ornamental
virtue but a supreme duty-to love and
faithfully serve ones country is the duty
of us ALL and this cannot be done unless
we exercise ourselves to .have conscience
void of offense, both towards God and
towards man."
q But more than this, our obligation
involves the proper discharge of our do
nestle and social duties We do not live
alone in the world. God has set us in fam
lilies and communities, and so we are
brought into close relationship with others.
We are accustomed here, too to speak of
our rights, when we ought to ask whether
we have an equal care for the rights of
otherS-have some conception of the law of
self-sacrifce. of bearing one anothers bur-
dens and OF 'esteeming others better than
ourselves"
9. Again. besides all that round of duty
and service to which strict justice binds
us, there Is many another obligation which
| must also be included in the general duty.
Nc man liveth to himself and we are men,
hers one of another. No right-minded per-
son supposes that a man fulflls all his
| duty to his fellow-men when he does for
them only what the law of the land COM
pels him to do. According to that law he
may be absolutely just. and yet all the
time ungenerous and selfish to the last de-
gree. If we do not recognize the higher
law of brotherly kindness, of doing to 9TH
ers as we would have them to do to us,
then, however closely We may have OBJ
served the letter of the law, We utterly fail
to keep its spirit For you remember the
summary of the law is not simply, Thou
shalt not injure thy neighbor. but Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as myself"
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
And now I come to ask what are the
things that are Gods? We might justly
say ''All is God's;" but let us look for a
moment at few of "the things"
/. Probably money represents to us bet
f<p he, ole oil
| Jects of desire. So that mans attitude
| towards his money represents fairly we'll
| his Observation-Disclosures he be broad minded
| and generous, or narrow minded and self
| ish.
| Now II is often the case that men make
money the supreme good of life. Tt is true
| that wealth brings noble opportunities, and
! competence is proper object of pursuit:
| but wealth and even competence may be
| bought at too high price. The essential
! thing to consider is the relation between
wealth and the mind-that is, the character
| CT the possessor.
| Now the only proper adjustment of this
relationship is the abiding remembrance
| that all things, including the capacity to
| Him of our store we give Him but His own.
| We are stewards of our means, whether
they be large or small. and if we would
| glory Of God and the good of our fellow
| men 1t is the gift of power from God
| to you which you may put to glorious use
Looking at the matter in this light we
assent to the statement that the goods of
| this world are not at all trifiing concern
| Whether we ourselves have enjoyed a
| small or large share of them will be of no
| Importance to us hundred years hence:
| but Ii will be of supreme Importance
| whether we shall have used Alright the on
portUnities of doing good that our means
| may bring us. The question Is not. how
many talents have we, but rather what
| use do we make of those talents we have
THE HIGHEST DUTY.
| 2. Our personal service and influence are
| Gods. Now this is often something higher
and harder TO reach than even the money
of which we have been speaking. To gain
II you must not only drive man out of his
| exterior defenses, but you must penetrate
| into the very citadel of his being This
| duty cannot be discharged simply by
| benefactions. / care not how munificent
| they may be: ii must dwell in the Thought
! and fill the mind and inspire the soul of
| man. God wants above all things the man
! himself We rob God of HIS Just due If we
refuse him our allegiance and affection If
| we withhold from Him our gratitude. orr
| service, our substance.
know. that in this restless. busy age,
some will tell you that high moral EXCEL
| lence and deep religious feeling are incon-
| sistent with shrewd business methods and
! habits, and with the effective discharge of
| the commoner duties of life But let no
| man plead the pressure of earthly care a