The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-21

Law vs. Anarchy.

abused wOrds-l4aw and Liberty. They
are here, by pen of inspiration, put in
right relationship. The Psalmist de-
clares, " shall keep thy law forever and
walk at liberty" He finds true liberty
in conformity to Gods law. In the
second passage we have catalogue of
the vices that reign and terrorize the
world when lawis dethroned and liberty
turned to liceLse. 1t describes n condi-
tion Of civil, moral, and spiritual anarchy.
The Bible isl book that magnifies law
God is n God Of law. lie is the author
Of order and not confusion. In all his
revelation, whether through his works
or his word, there is seen the supremacy
of law. "Oi law there can be no less
acknowledged than that her seat il the
bosom Of God, her voice the harmony OF
the world all things in heaven and earth
do her homage, the very least as feeling
her care and the greatest rs not exempt
from her power -
Ii the Bible is book that magnifies
law, it is also Freedoms greatest book.
Wherever th, Bible comes with open
page-there freedom uniurls her banner
Our text sets forth the relation OF
there two great words. Conformity TO
law il true liberty, and law is the guard
ian OF liberty. There is no liberty save
where great, fundamental and inexorable
law stands guard.
Anarchy il the opposite of all this. 1t
means mo rule" 1t oyerturns all au-
thority, all rule, all law. All violation
Of law isanarchy. Anarchy strikes at the
very foundation of the most sacred ties
of home and says, no marriage. 1t would
destroy all social and civic life, and says,
no government. 1t laysits profane hand
upon the highest aspiration of the I'M
mortal soul and says, no God.
On this occasion while every mind and
heart is filed with the horror Of a great
tragedy, and the bloody hand OF anarchy
is Haunted in our face, let us apply these
truths to the different spheres OF God &
creation and our own life and being.
Let US see it's fulflment in the material
and physical world. The simplest forms
of matter and life have relation to fixed
laws. 1t is parallel with these laws OF
the Creator. that the marvellous beauty
and symmetry OF the nation about US
finds its fullness Suppose for a moment
that the material world should rise in
rebellion against law. Let it dethrone
but the one great law Ot "gravitation. "
Then each heavenly body would fly from
it's orbit. The stars, suns, planets and
adamantine spheres that wheel unshaken
through the void immense, would crash
one against the other. There would he
the crush of matter and the wreck OF
worlds-that would material anarchy.
But today our thoughts turn to law as
the safeguard of civic liberty, for anarchy
has struck a desperate blow at her most
sacred aud vital part.
Hear We parable today. There was
a certain gardener who bought a choice
plat of ground He tended it with care.
He east out the noxiOus weeds, and on
every side built a strong wall to protect
it from violent tresspass. He planted in
il the choicest flowers, and they grew
apace. unfolding in matchless beauty.
The garden was the JOY Of all the land.
But there came one that way under cover
OF night, and with fendish hand broke
through the wall-slew the chief hus-
bandman-and would fain have turned
in upon the sacred soil the wild beasts to
trample and destroy.
The likeness OF this is before our eyes
in this land today. Our forefathers l2S
years ago laid out this garden OF the
western world. They cast out the weeds
of tyranny and misrule. They planted
here the choicest flower Of liberty, and
watered it with tears and with blood
They built about it the strong wall o.
our great fundamental laws. In thin
land no man is tyrant, and our chic
magistrate is but the executor OF law
Law is the guadian Of our civic liberty
and the chief executive is the highest ex
preston OF that law. But today VIZ
face a tragedy. The bloody hand of an
archy has broken through our strong
wall and has slain the good husband
man, for VIM. Mckinley lies dead.
"He hath been so clear
In his great office that his virtues
Plead like angels, trumpet tongued
against
The deep damnation of his taking off
And pity like naked newborn babe
Striding the blast, and heaven cherubin
horsed
IJpon the sightIess c0uriers OF the air
Hath blown the horrid deed in every eye
That tears do drown the wind"
As we stand with uncovered head al
the bier OF our nations dead we car
scarcely trust ourselves to speak lest oul
words be rash and hasty. Rather lei
our thoughts this morning beguided and
Influenced by those last words that come
to us from the borderland e'er he passed
over the river, is His way-God's viii
be DONE" May it not be that the gap
ping wound, not only in the dead form
o. our beloved President-but still man
ia the magisty Of the law he represented
speak to us its solemn lesson. 1t is not
hevoice OF God to this nation. His mes.
sage to us comesin the holy name OF law.
/. | think He would teach all our peo-
ple a greater reverence and regard for our
civic law. 1t is not simply anarchy in
the technical sense, but all lawlessness,
in which is ever the essence of anarchy,
that endangers the Republic. The rer'
edy for anarchy OF any sort is not an
l.. IL. 49,.