The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-17
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
OUR TRIBUTE TO CAESAR. A WASH
INGT0S's BIRTHDAY DISCOURSE.
by the Rev. George Hodges, ID. D.,
Dean OF Episcopal Theological
school, Cambridge, Mass.

8. n.
The anniversary Of washington's birth
comes TO Us each year freighted with in
spfration for young and old. and it Is OF
deep significance that we thus annually
dwell upon the life OF high-minded, pa
triotic, unselfish, loyal. Christian citizen
Not only here IN Canlbridge-anid scenes
associated with his name, the house IN
which he lived and the historic tree be-
meath whose shade he took command OF
the American army-not only here and at
Mount Vernon and at the capital city
but throughout the length and breadth Df
the land, men everywhere do wen 10 cele-
brate the day and hold in reverent memory
the man who did his duty both TO Caesar
and TO God.
Washington in his day recognized. as we
recognize in ours, that the principle which
Christ set forth in our text is principle
for every age. Our duty TO Caesar-thus
did Jesus Christ define it.
Lock for a moment at the conditions at
the time these words were spoken. Jesus
lad been urgently invited by members of
the two chief political parties OF His day
to speak His mind upon the subject which
they had under discussion. These two
parties, the Herodians and the Pharisees,
were set the one against the other, with
more than the usual partisan blindness and
bitterness. The conditions were peculiar.
There had never been much separation il
5i,eiea between politics and religion The
Jewish Church was the Jewish nation. The
prophets were patriotic orators who
preached politics with vehemence, and en-
tered might and main into public life. 1t
a. impossible to think Of Isaiah as a quiet
parish priest, living at the center or
rarrow circle, letting the great world out
side go uninterrupted on its own mistaken
way. In New York, in Boston, in Chicago,
Isaiah would have been the heart ana
soul OF great, cutspoken. radical, inde,
PENDENT, righteous reform. Amos ana
Hosea would have put themselves in peril
OF the police by infiamnatory speeches on
shc street corners and in the parks. AL
these men were interested in public ques-
ti0ns, profoundly and supremely.
HEROES OF THE TIME.
The saints Of that old time were the ma
tional heroes like him whose name and
character we commemorate to-day. They
were the men who had done conspicuous
service for their country did Washing
ton for his. ST. Abraham was the founder
of the nation; ST Moses the leader of the
revolution In Egypt, who had brought the
people into the blessings of independence:
st. Joshua, who had fought their battles
and won splendid victories; st. David, who
had ruled them prudently with all his pow
er. These were the sacred names upon
their church calendar The leaders or the
synagogue had been the guides of the
ti0nal councils, and their sons, who sat
upon the front seats In their fathers places,
were eager to emulate their patriotism and
their yalor. There was no difference be-
tween a parliament and a prayer meeting.
Any political question was also religious
question, into which excellent condition
though in a more Christian spirit-may We
come ourselves.
The point which was just then at issue
was the sovereignty OF Caesar. The Herod-
fans were the party OF the government, the
Pharisees were the party of the opposition.
To the Pharisees IL was so grievous mat
ter that gentle conqueror should sit upon
the sacred throne Of Israel and heather
reign over the chosen people that IL seemed
an insult to Almighty God. 1t was as il a
place OF the Archbishop of Canterbury.
They prayed for revolution They hated
both Caesar and his viceroy Herod with
nerce religious hatred Choose, they cried,
between Us and the Herodians, between
God and Caesar
These were the men who came together
to listen to a sermon upon the political
situation; and to their question, lis it law
fui TO give tribute to Caesar or not?'' Jesus
in concluding returned His wonderfully
Caesars things to Caesar; Gods to God.
The Pharisees cannot quarrel with that;
the Herodians cannot dispute that Let
follow the wise counsel That will be the
end OF partisanship; that will be the be-
ginning OF brotherhood. When they heard
these words they marveled, and left Him
and went their way; they had been given
the political sermon that they asked for,
and 1t amazed them into silence.
The HerOdfans share In our Lords an
swer Is emphasized every Sunday. We are
warned increasingly 10 render unto God
fne bT Some rs TO BE- tb ho Is
religion; TO get people TO discharge their
ecclesiastical and their theological duties
But the Pnarisses, the careful observers Of
these duties. the orthodox church men,
bers, have their share also in the answer.
They are to pay due allegiance unto
Caesar is a short name for the world we
1--we in. for the conditions that surround
US, for the society in which we move.
Caesar In his Roman palace, was not an
especially admirable person. not a moral
pattern for good children: any number of
hard things could be said about him truth
fully. And Caesar to-day. though he has
wonderfully improved, is not saint. IL
We are 10 believe half that the newspapers
tell us about political life in this country.
Lot yet descended out of heaven into any
discovered municipal boundaries. And we
know more or less ourselves regarding the
social and the commercial situation.
TRIBUTE TO CAESAR.
The Christian has sometimes been
tempted To turn his face toward the sun
~
ing in wickedness, and to wait for night to
bury II and for a new day to dawn in a
world 70 come. He has shut himself up in
a monastery. or else. that kind OF seclusion
falling into disrepute. he has kept his door
close shut upon the world outside He has
stayed out OF politics and abstained from
society. and taken but slight interest in
the world. His conversation is ir heaven:
his thoughts and hopes are there rather
n IN
Caesar.
But Jesus teaches that there is a tribute
which belongs to Caesar. The first duty OF
a man Is not 20 his own soul: IL is 10 God
for love OF God, and then to our brother
Tor love OF our brother. and after that to
Our own selves. We are not brought into
beng here that we may nurse our souls,
about us, be interested In its interests,
share in its responsibilities and do our
best to make II better. Indeed. 1t is not pos
sible for US 10 develop our own spiritual life
Alright, so long as We attend chiefly 10 our
selves Some has said that only God
and one man are necessary in any re-
ligion except ours. but that God and two
men are necessary for even a beginning OF
the Christian religion. Christianity is a
social religion. Its virtues are social vir-
tues. IL IS impossible TO practice IL unless
We enter into the company of others.
Accordingly We ought not TO he so appre.
henSive OF the welfare OF our own souls
TO avoid occasions where we may be OF
help 10 others. The purpose OF the Christian
religion Is 20 train up good men who will dc
their duty In every condition OF life, and
called TO take an active interest in politics.
IL. will rernfnnber that Christ came nor ~