The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-21
DOCTOR NJ. T. HEW CALLS FOR
MORE PUBLIC SPIRITEDNESS.
when the Righteous Are in Au-
thority. the People
Rejoice

The Reverend Marvin T. HaU. pastor 81
ST. PauTs NJ. r. Church. South. took for
his theme yesterday morning. TIE Duty
Of a Public Spirit" basing Il upon the
statement Of Solomon in Proverbs NAiN. =
When the righteous are IN authority; the
pecple rejoice. but when the wicked bear
eth rule; the people mourn
There are many qualities which sn to
make M a good citizen. but perhaps non"
more important OF Prove demanded by the
spirit. A public Sspirii IS a thing quite aIar'
from the spirit of the public. A public
spirit IS always heleTiccnt. Tho spirit az
the public may b. despotic' oppressive or
Public opinion may I've far below the
demands OF a public spirit. Public spirit
Includes denial OF self for the public good.
Patriotism is an important virtue. univers-
ally commended. Public SDirit Is patriot
ism with a raised sight Il Is the courage
and eciat OF PATRIOTISM. 80 manlIeS' IN wA';
brought TO bear m The ordinary essential
duties OF everyday life.
''Christianity. more than other religions.
should and has promofed public spirit.
which. after all. i nothing more than the
manifestation OF the second great conf
mandment in matters of public interest AMI
welfare. y public spirit can ANA should
exist under any form of government. but
IS greatly helped bv the existence OF a
body polite To which the people MAY be
come attached. Of which they can ne p.pud
and whose glory they delight 10 aivaI-s.
christianity alone makes such a govern
lAAFAlA AHFEAANlf- SAlAAHAaA- ~ 49, - iAAa-
nent motive mower cOeNistart with 4 hiCh
order Of intelligence
There has been confusion i'm the minds
Of Christians a. to the'- proper attitude
To public responsibility. This confusion and
hesitation has arisen from Two causes.
Christianity started ont IN "a time Whsu
public position aud Influence TeTc .mpossi-
bic TO Christians. ana henCe the leaders
Of Christianity wisely e1JOined strict attea-
ton 20 things spiritual. When at length
Christian sentiment put power in the hands
OF tn" Christian party. the church Of tie
dsy made the mistake Of irving TO force
men 20 become disciples OF Christ. AMI the
apostles were HZht In dtrectinc the hope
ana energies or the early church into ether
than governments channels. The authp-i-
ties or a later DAY were terribly wrong ia
trying tn fierce men into conformity by ins
use of the strong arm II the law
W. have come. in the growth Of
Christianity. TO another order Of things. The
Iginn. The conditions that obtain in n
worldwide way arc the fruit q Christian
truth so faithfully iaCulcsted by Christian
forces The highest. best things in the
government Of tho world are the outGrowth
OF Christianity. This fact reCOnditions the
christian church in the matter OF public re-
sDcnsihility.
The church Of TO-DAY needs to reassert
the old ideals. true now as ever. He that
ruieth over men must be just. ruling in The
authority the people rejoice. but when the
wicked besreth rule. the people mourn .
theoretically the church universal accents
tccse but practically her pos
PIE teel little obligation 10 establish this
order Of things.
Strange enough. Christian men 81 posi-
tive influence are generally displaced nv men
Of antichrisiian DISPOSITION. especially in
matters OF local Importance. Not infTe-
ouenuy governmental affairs resemble q