The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-31
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
RESPECT: A STRONG PLEA FOR Toll
GRAFTON AND MODERATION.
BY the Rev. Henry A.. Brown, ID. ID.
Rector of st. Johns Episcopal
Church, San BernardinO, Cal.

81 will mediate upon Thee and have re-
spect unto Thy w~ays."-Psalms cxiv, Is.
Responsibilities in any individual reveals
depth of character and breadth of mind; ii
opens the door to discovery of the truth
imbedded in every creed, every religion,
every school of philosophy; it is alike nee
essary to the proper worship of God and
service to man.
1t is a cause for deep regret when the cir
cumstances under which one is placed, the
training he receives and the incentives
which drive him forward tend to lessen his
sense of respect either for the laws of So
ciety, the institutions of state or the COM
mandments of God.
Under these heads we may mention, first.
a proper respect for parents. their wishes
and ways, even though we have long since
passed from under their control. and
though We see they hold old-fashioned
ideas, do not eat according to the latest
rules of etiquette or dress in the latest
fashion.
The first commandment God ever gave
with a promise was, Honor thy father and
thy mother, that thy days may be long in
the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee He who has protected and provided
for his child from helpless infancy, watched
over him with a fathers love, felt anxiety
and care a child never realizes, now that
his hair is white with the frosts of many
winters, his face furrowed with care, his
limbs trembling with infrmities of age and
toll, deserves better thanks and more re-
spect from his son than TO be called gov
ernor'' or dad or tine old gent" He is a
father No upaftar what hic failures bavo
been. and let shame mantle the cheek of
any youth who thinks it a mark of smart
ness to call him otherwise.
So likewise with that mother. Think OF
all she has borne through all the years; the
untiring care. the patient labors by night
and by day, the faithful devotion in sick
ness and health. The ~profoundest respect.
est love can never repay her for what she
has been to her child.
The wife who trusted her life and for
tunes forever in her husbands hands. and
has shared his joys and sorrows now these
many years, deserves more respect than to
be called ''old woman or be made the
slave of his within. She is a wife and is as
worthy to be called that sacred name when
care has plowed it's wrinkles through her
brow and the rose has faded from her
cheek as when. beautiful and full of hope
and trust, she stood beside him on that
bridal day. Censorious, fault-inding words
may be spoken thoughtlessly, but a wom-
ans heart is sensitive, and. although in her
wifely devotion she may give no sign of
sorrow, yet the unkind words strike deep,
and, when she is alone, bring the tears
which pride and fear kept from his sight.
BE TOLERANT.
Again we see a lack OF respect on the part
of many for those who differ from them in
opinions. We fail to consider at times that
people whose views are Numerically OPP
posed to ours are just as conscientious in
their beliefs as we. How apt we are to feel
that because a man doesn't think as we on
the tariff question or the silver question or
the prohibition question or a religious ques-
ton that he hasn't an honest hair In his
head. People conscientiously differ from
one another and it i'll becomes us to ascribe
sinister motives to any one. and, though we
may have no respect for his opinions as
opinions, yet, as true gentlemen, if not
| Christians, we are bound to respect his
feelings so long as they do not hinder us in
our conscientious belief.
A man may be opposed to profanity, it
may wound his heart to hear Gods name
taken i'm vain; in such case it is the part of
a man, no matter whether he has any re-
gard for Christianity or not, out OF simple
respect for the feelings of a fellow-man, to
desist from profanity in his presence; 10 re-
fuse to guard ones language is an indica-
tion of LOWERED manners. to say the least
Again, let us have respect for our laws.
Lack of respect for law is the bane or re-
publican America to-day, and the peril or
her institutions; its results are obvious TO
the most superficial mind Surprising a
noted criminal should be convicted of muir
der by a jury good and true and sentenced
by the judge to be executed, but the exc
cutioner should say: Il do not believe In
executing him; my sympathy is with the
prisoner" What would be the meaning or
such an act? Would such a person be toler-
ated for a moment in office? Yet has any
servant of the people any right TO allow a
law TO be openly and fiagrantly violated?
Has he any right as an officer 10 question
whether or not IL shall be enforced? Is IL
not most fragrant disrespect to the princi-
pies of American citizenship? An insult TO
the dignity of law? A law may be fagrant-
~ unjust; as loyal citizens we should labor
for its repeal, but so long as it is a law we
should just as Loyalty obey 1t. American
citizens, your respect for your laws is the
safeguard of your Republic.
Just beneath the cross of Christ every
American citizen should hang his country s
flag. and every child from ocean to ocean
should be taught that that flag Is the
RIDIlOuS GILlDltlll vi oNtSG AAC1LG1 "
which his fathers have bled. 1t is an indi-
cation of respect to see It unfold 10 the
breeze from the towers of our public
schools. We cannot see too many of them.
Thank God that the time has come when
nearly every schoolhouse and public insti-
tuition in this land floats from its topmost
tower and spire 1.-The broad stripes and
bright stars and never, so long as we
retain the memory of that suffering in
Valley Forge and Gettysburg, and of all
those seven long and awful years of fight
ing: never. so long as il remains the emb-
7 lem of the American Nation. sacred to
the memory of more than a million men,
can we allow it to be supplanted by an
other. / read somewhere that in England
every youth can repeat every word OF
God Save the Queen" Does every Ameri-
can know America" by heart? In France
every Frenchman removes his hat at the
sound of the "Marseillaise.' Do our people
have as deep a feeling when hearing the
"Star-spangled Banner or the Red
White and Blue?" Can we say them. even
without the book?
RESPECT FOR GOD.
And now 1 have touched this subjecf
much as a boy skips a stone on the water
CHANGING here and there along the sur
face: and as the stone at last seeks tn
tottom, let US look more deeply and con
slider. finally, respect for God.
Look where we will upon our earth, and
note the tiniest petal of the flower, tn