The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-04-22
Lodge Men at chnrsh.

Members Of the local lodges Shield
lof Honor attended divine services in
I, Delaware Avenue Baptist Churct. yes
trday morning. A. special sermon was
preached by the Rev. John SHAPE, pas
tor of the church, OH the subject Chris
Itians' Duty as a Citizen" lie divided
his subject into three parts as follows
First. the Christian citizens duty to
the State; second, the Christian cit-
gems duty to other citizens and third,
The Christian citizens duty to himself.
He took his text from Romans thirteenth
Ichapter and eighth verse: Owe no man
anything. but to love one another: for he
that lovcth another hath fulfilled the
law"
In his Introductory Mr.. Shape OK
planned the meaning of the words,
|"ShieId" and "Honor.". Honor he
said. ''means manly virtue, moral worth,
dignity. 1t means in man, integrity; in
woman, purity; in all a fine sense Of
what is right and just in life.
"A shield to the Greek and Romans
meant Il piece Of defensive armor. In
scripture it means a figure for any de-
Tense aud even persons are spoken of as
a shield. God is spoken of as a shield.
Moses spoke of him as such as did also
Daniel. The word shield appears once
in Proverbs and is only spoken of once
in the New Testament. Greeks, Ro-
mans and Jews would rather lose Their
lives than to lose their shield. To cast
it away in the field of battle is per-
al ,li,,l,,n,r nd mn al Ill ap "
Mr.. Shape in speaking of the first
part of his subject said: "A mans duty
is first to his government, duty Of
submission and d duty of fear. We are
to obey government, not only because
we are men but because we are Chris.
tian men. Piety and pnllitation are not
Incompatible terms, they meet and
kiss each other and walk arm linked
until they blend in the place of the
heavenly citizenship. The man whose
citizenship is in heaven alone had better
die. for by this may he enter into citizen
ship. Christianity does not disfranchise
a man. Preachers and other good peo-
pie should be interested in politics for
scripture reasons. We are to obey rules
because they are Gods ministers and
for two other reasons; because it is in,
expedlent rot to do so and it is also
right to do SO. Our public Off
GERS may be corrupt but they are to be
honored if for no other reason than that
they are officers"
In speaking on the Christian citiz MS
duty to other citizens he said: 1T is
a duty of love. We are to owe no man
but love. We may never dis.
charge this obligation. The Christian
citizen is never out of debt to the other
citizen. Love is u restraining influence
on the citizen, it Restraints from five
things: adultery, murder, theft, false
witness and cOveteousness. Love is
comprehensive; to love thy ncighbor is
myself is the duty of the Christian
citizen
In concluding Mr.. Shape said 1.-The
Christian citizen owes a duty to himself;
a duty to be temperate; to be pure; to
be peaceable. The argument for the
of all these duties is tins
The advent of Christ is our salvation
The means for the accomplishment Of
his is the putting on of the Lord Jesus
Christ
Mrs. Joseph Spcicher. returned mis-
'ionary from China, made an address at
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church last
hight on MY Experience in China"
IN Sunday, May Il about 200 members
II the local tribes of Red Men will at |
end services in Delaware Avenue Bap-
list Church.