Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-06
TRUE PATRIOTISM.
Defined by the Rev c. E. Granger Last
 Night.

last night the pastor, Rev c. B. Gran ger, delivered an interesting sermon entitled "A Prayer for Our Country" He said in part:
 ''This is one of the seasons of the year when we declare our patriotism 1 and enthusiasm for our country, and possibly no greater event in our his tory could be cited than the one we celebrate on July of each year. want to speak briefly tonight of that deeper and truer patriotism than what | may be shown by noisy display of l fireworks or brass band parades. Neither noise nor parade is patriotism. True patriotism is a divine thing and may be regarded as a religious grace. 1t is of utmost importance that the | people of our country and of any coun- | try should be imbued with true pa l triOtiSm. And when l say true patriotism 1 mean not headStrong, braggadocio spirit, wherein one thinks that his country is always best, wis est and right. No, not that-that is not true patriotism but rather that spirit which, loving it's country, yet ! sees the real and the true and the great in proper proportions and light, which has a divine love for them and a courage to stand for them at all haz- Il etAa5 <AAA0 AA SlJALC VI <AAA AdLSCAS GAA0 hardships. That, dear friends, is the only true patriotism. The divine laws of God are supreme in the life of the real patriot. He recognizes the two 1 great facts, first, that his country, | however extended and powerful it l may be,is subject to God, ,the universal 1 king; second, that which is no less inn | portant, namely, that he personally, | no matter what may be his country, | is subject first to God and then to his | country. For a nation the thought | should be, We are subject unto God, | first, last and always For the indi- vidual, the thought should be, I am subject first to God, second to my country The true patriot will couple his God with his country. In that sense the church and the state are in- separable. That is the kind of patriot ism the Psalmist possessed. To him patriotism was a part and a large part, of his religion. In his mind God was his temporal, as well as spiritual king: and he sang: Save thy people, and bless thine inheritanee; feed them also and lift them up forever The truest patriotism finds expression in the first three words of our text, not in the cry for deIiverance and salvation, but in the revocation Of the property right: Save thy people, Ethis text begins with, and is based upon those wOrds-'Saye thy people, so true patriotism begins withl and is based upon the grand fact of - the : nation belonging to God and His care for and love toward it. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord. Aye, that is the thought which 1 wish all our citizens, and es- | floaia xv xxvor oI iZe and embrace-not to glory so much that we are the people, as that We are Gods people, which is to be such a sure and grander thing.
 "Save thy people and bless thine in- heritance.' There is great stride in true patriotism, the spirit which is not only for self, but for others, for those who will follow. That is the spirit of our forefathers. who realized that they were but sowing seeds which would grow and ripen in after years, when with unselfish zeal and earnest ness they laid the foundation of our great republic; that is the spirit which animated the soldiers of our Civil war in their hardship and sufferings. It was the thought of their children and posterity. Not only does the true pat. riot pray, Lord, save Thy people, but also bless Thine inheritance.' Bless those who will follow; they are also thine, as are we; therefore bless thine inheritance.
 "And the prayer continues: aFeed them,' or it may be rendered, take care of them,' govern them but the same Is the same in any event. God as the ruler and keeper of nations is implored to watch overs and care. fol ana supply the needs of. the nations posterity. And, friends, it is n fine thing to realize not only that God is our king demanding our subjectiof aud sthe spbjection of our children providing for us and our children our nation and its pesterity. The prayer is Lord save thy people ana bless thine inheritance and feed them and the words are prophetic-he vii save his people and bless and care fol them
 "Observe will you the infinity ot this petition-in the words and If them up for ever And that is an } other spoke in the wheel of true pa triotism. The true patriot does moi look for nor expect the end of hi; SodhlAy. 11e uOeS UOI plan Tor anC work for and fight and sacrifice for { nation to last but an age. but for Ions ages. Does any one here look for ths dissolution of the United States? D, We look for the end of our beloved country? By no means.
 "I have referred to our tex as a prayer. The title I would giy, to this sermon is "A Prayer for Oul Country But we must not forge that he only truly prays for his coun try or anything else who writes witt that prayer of faith, faithful and zeal ous work. The armless sleeve, tht crutch, the sightless eye, the weaken ed frame, as the results of bitter wal may be the strongest evidences of tht prayer of the veteran. For he has pu
 his prayers into execution.
 "But who will limit the word ot patriotism of time of war. Not Not any of these level-headed. far sighted citizens and men of affairs here. Oh, no. No one will question but that in times of peace there is [ call for the truest and noblest kinl of patriotism. If peace hath her vic tories no less renowned than war st peace hath her struggles and needs nt