Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-09-13
RESPECT FOR LAW.
THE ONLY BASIS ON WHICH ORGAN
lied SOCIETY CAN EXIST.

A sermon Delivered by Rev. Thomas
slmms at the Congregational Church,
Middlebury. Two Days After the Shoot
ing of President Mckinley.
"whoso keepeth the law is wise son, but
he that Is companion of riotous men
shameth his father."-XXviil. ProV.1.
At the base of all human relations, as
the sure and secure foundation lies
wholesome law. Good men have theor-
lied upon condition of society where
authority and law shall be unknown,
VET even they have admitted that the
only road to this Utopian state is by way
of enactment and enforcement of right
eous laws. On the other hand. bad men,
not a few, chatting under the restrictions
and penalties of the law, have sought to
throw of its restraints and abandon
themselves and society to the wild whims
and caprces of the individual. Notwith
standing these efforts we find human So
ciety safest and securest where law pre-
walls. Take, for instance. the primal
and most natural condition of society,
that of the family, wherein love should
be the pervading and prevailing charac-
tcristic and we are forced To confess
that home without authority and obedi-
ence Is a paradox pathway to ruin.
Childhood Is characterized by restless
ness. self-will aud rebellion. and must be
taught patience, self.cOntrOl and the
rights of others. Unless there be law
and authority, these lower tendencies
and passions will surely grow, and their
fruitage will be abundant. Hence it
comes to pass that the ideal home is not
only a place where loye abOunds but
where law reigns. 1t will not do to allow
our children to eat what and when they
wish, nor to go where and when they
will. The higher intelligence and ripper
experience of the parent should place
the will of the child under subsection.
1t is very short step from the home
to the school-sO short that they inter-
lace each other in their operations. Here,
too, restriction and prescription prevail,
and things must be done decently and in
order. Times and seasons must be
regular, lessons assigned, conduct reg
ulated. While sports and games have
their place. they must be confined to their
proper places and times. 1t is no easy
task for teacher and pupil TO do justice
to their tasks. since about this whole
business OF school life there is much that
is drudgery. Walls and books are
bondage to many. Yet this is the golden
opportunity for an Arnold or Hopkins to
fire the soul of youth. and so kindle and
fancnthusiasm thar hunger for knowledge
becomes a passion and its quest great
Joy. Back of all this, however, to OBJ
tain the richest and ripest fruitage, there
must be order and law.
These same conditions obtain in the
state and nation. If history has taught
US anything, it is this, that disorder
and lawlessness endanger and ultimately
destroy nations, While law and order are
the supports upon which rest securely
the temple of freedom. ROme's days of
progress cOntrasted with her decline and
fall declared this, the nOmadic Arabs con-
trasted with the inhabitants of England
and Germany repeat it, and France may
well continue to rue that day, a century
since, when she threw law and order to
the winds, and baptized lawlessness and
license by the sacred name of liberty.
National safety can be secured and
maintained only through the enactment
and enforcement of wise and wholesome
laws. Experience corroborates the teach
ing of the Bible, that we must be subj ect
unto those in authority, honor tie King,
and pay tribute unto Caesar. Free
government exists primarily for the
benefit of the governed. It's purposes
are to protect life and property, to grant
the individual the privileges of freedom
and the pursuit of happiness but in
dividual liberty should always end
where the rights of ones feliow-men
begin. This is the alpha of government.
To afford these privileges the govern
ment has the right to levy taxes, and
collect them; to enlist for military serv-
ice, and to insist that each man shall
submit his personal within and wish to
the welfare of the rest, the government
being the Judge OF what that welfare
shall be.
The necessity for law and order in all
departments of human society is LdScd
Upon the estimate the Infinite eridentl
places npon Them. He who called order
and system out of chaos. who. before
nations were, or man was, enacted laws
for every object Of his creation, from the
tinieSt seed that lies buried for centuries
which when brought under the influence
of the sun yields of its kind, up to the
measureless heavenly bodies. millions OF
miles away, that send their light stream.
down to us upon the pathway of time. lie
has so impressed Us by the reign of law,
that in our belief of the Infinite we are
continually going back to this first
great cause. This is back of all our
religion and religious thinking. Because
of this the night regularly follows day
the seasons regularly return with theil
seedtme and harvest, each seed unfail-
ingly brings forth of its kind, and the
planets move with such minute regu
larity that their whereabouts can be
predicted a hundred years hence. God;
regard for law and order invokes US t
obedience, and enables us to sing,
beyond the heavens He sits alone,
The universe obeys His nod;
The lightning riffs disclose His throne
And thunders voice the name of God