The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-28
DISCUSS RELIGION
And PATRIOTISM
Governor Van SAINT and Others
Take Part In Mems
League Services.

EfeiunS service at the First Metho-
dist church yesterday was devoted to
meeting under the auspices of the
Mems league of the church. The church
was crowded and those who made ND
the large assemblage enjoyed the priv
ilege of listening to no less than six
eloquent speakers. several of whom
have more than local reputation. They
were Bishop James N Fitzgerald. of
ST. Louis Who has taken a prominent
part In the conference of the German
M. E. church in this city; United States
Senator Moses E. Clapp, Judge Ell
torrance, Of Minneapolis, past grand
commander of the G. A. R.; Gov. Van
SAINT, Rev. b. F. Longley and Rev. II.
V. GivIer.
The topic Of the occasion was PA
trfotism and Religion and these rep
resentatives of the judicial. executive
legislative and ecclesiastical estates of
society, each contributing argument
from his own fund of experience and
thought, found themselves nal upon
the common ground of agreement that
all patriotism and good citizenship Is
based upon Christianity.
The light-standards at either side of
the platform were draped with Amer
ican flags. f. j. Clemans, president of
the league, conducted the meeting and
with him on the platform sat the
speakers.
Gods Plan in Founding the. Republic.
After brief Introductory remarks. Mr..
Clenlans introduced Gov. Van SAINT,
who said in part:
81 approve most heartily of the prin-
ciples of this organiza ton among the
young men of your church. for / believe
that those who constitute our highest
type of citizens are our highest type OF
Christians.
L am glad to see that flag here, for
do not. believe there Is any place too
sacred for the stars and stripes. Religion
and patriotism have gone hand hand
minded of the days of my boyhood and
those good men Of God who. with the
American flag draped behind their pull
pits, preached earnestly for the abolition.
of slavery. ] firmly believe that those
devout sermons caused many a boy to
shoulder a n1usket and go to defend the
principles OF liberty.
81 believe it was the will of God that
the American continent should be saved
free from the habitation of man except
for the wandering aborigines. that the
the continental army their battle cry was:
In this country there shall be no king
but Cod and it was that idea and the
moral strength which 1t carried with 1t
that won them their fight
ITO come down to the more modern
times OF our struggle to preserve this
founded. We had a battle cry which was:
In this country there shall be no master
but Cod and the principles underlying
that were what won us our fight
"By adherence to the principles of your
society YOU young men will not only bene-
fit yourselves. but you will benefit the
state"
Civil War Blessing.
Judge Torrance spoke at some length
in favor Of broadening ones views as
a MEANS to better Christianity and
better citizenship. He believed, he
said. that the Civil war was. If properly
regarded, one OF the great blessings of
this country. The duty imposed upon
us by our ancestors should be taken up
bravely and sustained. We must es-
tablish high standards and live UP to
them and this object must be achieved
by obedience to law. We must obey the
divine law and the law of the country
as well. He said he was glad to know
that the young men of this church had
banded themselves together in so good
cause, and he felt sure that there was
no way they could better advance the
cause of their church and the welfare
Of the community.
Christianity the Light of Progress.
Hon. Moses E. Clapp said he believed
that had it not been for Christianity
man would still be many centuries
away from the great boon of freedom.
Civilization had continued for forty
centuries without progress toward free
dom until the coming of Christianity.
Internationally the ancients knew only
that an empire could fall by the great
er power of another empire, and that
throne could only be achieved by the
accident of birth or the power of the
sword. Essential events were neces-
sary to make the dawn of freedom pos
sible. Man had to learn the power of
man in the concrete and to see that all
the power of an empire was as shad-
ow against the force of body of men
acting in unison toward one common
end. Before he could dream of free
dom man must learn that there was a
form of power that would last forever,
a power that would bring to naught all
that man had done under monarchi-
cal government. Then he had also to
learn the road to power and patriotism
The speaker said that he believed 1t
to be most fitting that in the sanctuary
devoted to the teachings of Christianity
there should also be taught the lessons
of patriotism. He said that under
monarchical form of government a citi-
zen had discharged his duty when he
had paid his taxes and fought his coun-
try's battles, but in republican gov
eminent there Is still further burden
of citizenship. The citizen is a part of
the government itself, and must par
ticipate in its administration. No gov
eminent, he said. can rise above its
source. and If the government would be
great 1t must be through a great and
sublime citizenship. This form of citi-
zenship is only to be achieved through
general obedience to law. and the
greatest Of all law is divine law.
Obedience to Law.
Bishop Fitzgerald spoke only briefly.
He said he was struck with the fact
that the keynote Of the addresses Of all
OF the other speakers had been obedi-
ence to law. If the people were all to
obey the law this country would be a
paradise; but unfortunately no one of
us wants to obey the part Of the law
which stands in his own way. The part
Of the law that each one wants to obey
is that which affects his neighbor Each
one has laws which he wants to evade,
and consequently we are a nation of
law breakers. He counseled his hear
ers to consult their consciences. and
when they should find that they had
been disobeying the laws to resolve
that they would do so no more He
said he was glad to find such general
interest In the Young Mems league, and