Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-30
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.

| CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
| paper read by Miss Jennie III. Brown of Yves
Paris before the Oxford County convention o
the w. C. T. U. at Buckaeld.)
In consideration of the value o
woman's influence in political legislation
l have taken up the department o
"Christian Citizenship" in this Organiza
ton.
! What is Christian? What is citizen
And how shall we combine the two?
To define Christian as distinct from
citizenship is rather difficult task, TO-
it seems that true Christian is an EN-
bodiment of the whole; however, per
son might be respected citizen, yet no
be Christian. Yet the Christian ideal
are put before us, and we are called unit
the highest. Paul says, "Perfect thy
self in holiness, keep that which is com
mitted to thy trust"
A Christian cannot be other than
good moral man with the added elemen
of spiritual quickening. We can accep
all the good there is in persons life
and, with prayer to God, nurture those
elements into leavening the whole, by
His spirit.
Webster defines Christian as one who
believes in Christ; a professor of the
religion of Jesus Christ. If rightly com
pretended with the Illuminating light
of the spirit to guide, such belief can
only lead to individual conservation, ano
obedience to the teachings of Christ
The test of every Christian character is
obedience! 1t is not what we talk about
but what we do, that puts a jewel into
our crown of life. We are told in the
Bible that "By their fruits shall we
know them" The value of a tree is
determined by its fruit; likewise, a
genuine Christian is valued by the life
work. The motive behind our personal
effort determines the genuineness of the
fruit.
A true Christian, then, is one whose
heart is filled with the spirit of Christ
and whose life abounds in love, joy,
peace; kindness, meekness, temperance.
The blessings of citizenship, like many
other blessings, may perhaps be fully
appreciated only when we are deprived
of some of it's enjoyments and advan-
tages. DR.. Hale has given us an illus
tration of this in his little story, "The
Man Without Country" A young Of
ficer, who was traitor to his country,
when on trial for his offence, said, with
an oath, he wished he might never hear
of the United States again. His punish
ment was to take him at his word, and
deprive him of all citizenship, or
knowledge of this country. For the
fifty remaining years of his life no word
ever reached him from home and his
native land. The bitterness of his fate
is shown by words which he addressed
to friend: 'If you are ever tempted to
do thing that shall put bar between
you and your country, pray God in His
mercy to take you, that instant, home to
His own Heaven. Never dream dream
but of serving that country as she bids
YOU, and never let night pass but you
pray God to bless that flag"
This man was suffering an agony OF
remorse for his disloyalty. He now
knew what citizenship meant, because he
had been citizen, and was allowed to
be one no longer.
"Breathes there man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said
This Is my own, my native land?
Whose heart hath neer within him burned,
AS home his foot teps he hath turned,
From wandering on foreign strand?"
Because of the beauty and sacredness
of the ideal home life comes the value
and necessity of good citizenship. Man
has advanced through various grades of
civilization to a creature capable OF
thinking Gods thoughts after him, ="
and worthy to be called His child.
There has been born in his soul the un-
selfish love of country, and with it the
capabilities of citizenship. To look out
for the health, sobriety, and purity of
a community is a good citizens ambi.
ton. All public Office should be made
sacred by faithful performance of its
duties. There ought to be some method
by which those who desire to hold office
through false and selfish ambition, or
that curse-the love of money for its
own sake-should be deprived of such
rights. Does our standard of citizen
ship need to be raised? If so, how shall
it be done?
A few weeks ago, just before leaving
San Francisco, President Mckinley made
a little speech to the G. E. and other re-
ligious societies of that city. l quote a
few of his words:
"He who serves the Master best serves
man best, and he who serves truth,
serves civilization. There is nothing
lasts SO long. wears so well, and is of
such inestimable advantage to the pos
SCISSOR, as high character and an upright
life. When you are serving man by
hehing him to be better and nObler, you
are serving your country. There never
was, in all the past, such demand as
now for incorruptible character, strong
enough to resist every temptation to do
wrong. We need it in every relation OF
life: the home, store, bank, and great
business affairs of the country. 1t is
needed everywhere, never more than at
this hour"
To my mind the soul that understands
and follo,os the practical teachings OF
Jesus cannot fail to be a model citizen.
If the true spirit of Christ were the con.
trolling power in life, each person would
be such good citizen there would be
little if any need of law. Law is not fol
the righteous man, and men of good
character need little government. If we
are true Christians, we shall be faithful
to all that is noble, loyal, and true, and
all influences which make for righteous
ness, and the upbuilding of state and
nation. He who here performs the
duties of citizenship faithfully, will be
the better fitted to become citizen in
Gods higher country, where shall dwell
eternal love and peace, where sin ano
sorrow shall not enter. "They desire
country, even a heavenly; wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called theil
God, for He hath prepared for then
a CITY,"
Our beloved Miss Willard says: "This
is the age that does not forever keel
talking about coming to Christ as the
Saviour, but talks about going will
Christ, out to the suffering, and forgot
ten, and tempted" We do her creates
honor when we learn to love humanit.
as she loved it.
In this fair republic of ours there ar,
many grave problems, social and politi
cal, which need careful consideration
and wise legislation. 1t increases ;
hundred-fold the need of intelligent
righteous citizenship; and desire tt
emphasize the fact of our personal re
sponsibility as members of this Whit
Ribbon organization.
Women need to be aroused to the pos
sibilities of their helpfulness. Not s.
much in competition with man, as il
wise cooperation with him, and l wis
could impress upon each woman in thi
country the value of her individual in
fluence. "None liveth to himself!" Go,