The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-24
DUTY AS CITIZENS
REV. vi. ID. HARDIN ADRRESSEC
MEMS MEETING AT
\. vi. c. A.
MERCENARY SPIRIT OF AGE
Danger of Present Time Lies in
the Too Complete Separation
of Religion and Gov
ernHlent

THE Young Man as a Citizen was tbe
SUBJECT OF an eloquent address before the
/ NJ {. A. yesterday afternoon nv Key
M. D. Hardin of Minneapolis in which
ne dWelt upon the Importance OF Chris
uan young men as citizens He said
that Wnlle the teachings of Christ were
not along the lines of civil life yet the
principles involved in his preaching were
such as would readily apply to good cit
iZenshiD
Christ never went so far in his teach
lnSS as to even commit himself upon
winch form of government he preferred
but the great underlying principles were
always involved. For instance while he
never said anything upon the question Of
slavery, which must be admitted is 4 oivil
question, yet he told his disciples thai
all men were to be treated as brothers
and this would of itself condemn slavery.
winch is contrary to that teaching
Inc idea that religion and government
should always be kept separate is entire
ly too popular, for it is necessary that
the people of the country be religious in
order to obtain the best government No
nation can be better nor worse than the
average of her citizens is a DriacipIe
that has been recognized for centuries.
and if the highest average Is to be oh
tanned, 1t must be done by having a
majority of the people worship and serve
God. This is fact that cannot be de-
hled, lnasmuch as the best men are
OF necessity religious men.
Inc best citizen is the man who has
the clearest conception Of the great teach
ing of Jesus that it is the duty of one
man to respect his neighbors rights. If
ne mas this conception he will not be so
selfish as to struggle for his own per
sonal benefit without giving any thoUs.nt
TO the welfare of others. If the govern
ment is for the good of those governed
then everything that is done must be
for the good Of the largest numl,or of
people, and no one will strive 10 gain
the benefits of the government to a
greater extent than he is entitled ID re-
ceiN e.
There is another principle that is in
VOWED in this great altruistic idea that
IS essential in social matters 1t is the
TACT that men must cooperate in the
trivial affairs of life. If a man was 10
depend entirely upon himself for nvery-
thing he gets in life there would he no
progress and the civilization Of the world
would be at a standstill Imagine a man
making all his own clothing ana being
compelled to raise and grind his own
grain and seek out his own meat What
kind of country would you have? Eut
by the great principle of co-operati IN
which is cOmprehended in the tea aching Of
another, a man gets his clothing in one
place and his food in another. ANA IN
exchange he gives what he has to offer.
If l were asked to pronounce in one
sentence what | consider to be the great
! est curse and menace to the welfare Of
the country today, 1 would say that it
is the mercencry spirit that is being mani
tested on every hand. Men are so selfish
and so wrapped up in the details Of their
| own monetary schemes that they do not
take the time that is really necessary
| for the welfare of the nation. Every
man has seen examples of this. 1t is
not in accordance with the teachings Of
Christ, who has said that men are to
prefer one another.
1.-The greatest need of the people Of the
country today is for young men wh1 are
true to the teachings of their God, and
who are willing to go out and stand tor
| those principles even in the public places
| of national life and secure legislation
| that will be for the good of the ma
| jority rather than for the few. The need
| is great and the demand is impera tive
| 1t remains to be seen whether the pres en-
| generation will be true to themselves
! and supply this crying need of the gov
eminent.