The Somerset reporter., 1903-07-02
Visit of Sheriff Cummings.

The pulpit and platform were adorned
with lastly arranged plants and flowers.
Rev. II. + Huse presided PRAYER was
offered by Rev. Il. W. kimball. The
music, consisting Of selection by the
quartet, and a baritone solo, sJeruss-
Iem,' By +. c. Taylor, with quartet
accompaniment, elected favorable com
ment on all sides.
The theme of the speaker was taken
from the text, "Bear ye ore another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law Of
Christi The sermon was a powerful,
convincing appeal, and one that held the
attention of the audience to the close.
At the evening service in Coburn Hall,
union temperance meeting in which
the Methodist, Congregationalst and
both Baptist societies participated,
Sheriff Cummings again addressed a
large audience. Rev. Daniel Onstott
presided at this service. After the
opening anthem "Praise the Lord -
most effectively rendered by the quartet,
Miss Clara Vosumus accompanst, Rev.
Il. W. kimball read from the scripture.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Il. F. Huse.
A collection was taken to defray the ex-
pense, after which the speaker of the
evening was introduced.
Sheriff Cummings took as his theme
"Chrstian Citizenship" While treating
the subject in it's broader aspect, he con-
fined his remarks largely to the attitude
of the public toward the enforcement of
the prohbitory law. Mr.. Cummings is an
energetic, forceful speaker, thoroughly
conversant with his theme and alive to
its significance. With powerful rhetoric
and eloquent delivery he enlarged upon
the duty of the Christian citizen to res
cue the administration of the laws from
the incompetent and the vicious, and in
vivid colors painted the blighting con-
sequences Of non-enforcement. In the
use Of sarcasm and ridicule, the sheriff
is postmaster, and his ironica humor
lent force as well as spiceIto the thread of
his argument.
Briefly summarized, the address was
as follows:
Agitation is the only salvation of a
democratic government. The abolition
list agitation in the days before the war
made slavery impossible. So it Is in any
moral reform. The rum question" in
wolves all kinds of law, politics and re-
| ligion.
| wish to talk about our duty as
Christians because we are citizens. A
man cannot find out what Is his duty
simply by reading his Bible; by finding
out what Christians duty was centuries
ago. Government now rests upon the
people. Every man is responsible for
the kind OF government which exists in
his community, state, and nation. W.
must know the conditions under which
we live; thus only can we fulfill the
duties of citizenship. The Christian
citizen is not some solitary saint; he
must adjust himself to other citizens.
We must live in this world to have some
hope of living in another world. No
man is fit to live in Heaven who is not
fit to live in Skowhegau.
Gods love is according to law, and all
his universe is law. When law is re-
laxed life will cease to be, and the
nation will break up. We have been
remss in enforcing the public duties.
Christ taught THY kingdom come, thy
will be done" He meant il should come
to pass in Washington, Ia Augusta, in
SkowheAan: by the Supreme Court, by
the Governor, by the Mayor, by all 1t
cannot be done unless it is a universal
fact.
The plague-spot of our government is
the administration of law In our towns,
cities and villages. One trouble is the
"bad citizenship of good citizens" They
are indifferent to political matters, while
the bad men are politically active. Bad
men rule because good men let them.
The caucus is the 'seat of power. The
Christian citizens duty is at the caucus
before the prayer meeting. As Chris
tians we are behind the procession. We
have not arrived at that state OF civilizt-
ton where we realize the responsibility
of citizenship.
1t makes no difference what kind Of
a political tag an officer has on its back.
II he Is not a man, he will be a tool
Everything depends on the quality of
the man you vote for. Ii matters not
how good your laws are, providing bad
men enforce them. A law is like a gun
or knife in the hands Of a good man
power for good, in the hands of bad
man terrible instrument OF evil.
officials have used 1t as the most power
full weapon TO destroy the confidence of
the DeOple in their statutes
The argument is sometimes heard from
officials that they enforce the law 10 the
limit Of public opinion. For them there
Is no other public opinion than the ststutes
wherein the people have seen fit To ex-
press themselves. What we need is
baptism of courage. The preacher does
not dare to speak the truth. The business
man fears that he will lose trade. No
advance was ever yet made withou,
sacrifice, but it is folly to imagine that
business can suffer permanently from
the closing of the rum-shop. The only
business to suffer will be the rum bust
ness and trades dependent on it, The
official who listens to the popular voice
is trying to ride two horses going in
different directions at the same time.
1t is not the drunkard we have to fear.
but the man who wants his money.
We have men who have been fined more
than fifty times. Their moral nature
has become thoroughly degenerated.
The only method of electing public
officials at present is along party lines.
Until there is a recrystallizationo of public
ideas, you will have to do the same in
politics as you do in travelling-fnd
no ie