St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-08-01
man is able to walk, and think, ane
plan alone.

tempt to do SO, any failure to recoe
nize His leading and guiding hand. i
attended with disaster. Not onl
does the eternal word of God declar
that, blessed Is the nation who's
God is the Lord" and that righteous
ness ex,sheth a nation," but it's plail
commaAd Is that prayers should b
offered for kings and all who are il
authority, because ''there is no powe
but of God: the powers that be ar
ordained of God" Our Fundamental
proposition then is the inseps abl
connection which God always ha
with the affairs of nations, and tn,
medium through which He operates
Is that OF human instrumentalities
This being true, the worship ant
service of God cannot be confined t.
the Westinghouse or the closet, bu
must extend to political utilization
the administration of public affairs
and every relation which the either
is called upon to sustain to the com
munity, city, state or nation. The
Christian must be and ought to be
the most loyal, faithful and obedient
citizen. His religion must not weak
en- his hand in its grasp Of public at
fairs. 1t should not lessen his sense
of responsibility to help carry the
burdens of state. It is false note
in religion which makes q man feel
out of tune and out of place at the
political gathering and at the polls.
The Christian, if he follows God and
walks as a disciple Of the light, is
not led away from active and earnest
participation in public affairs and
the solving of political questions,
but is inevitably placed in close con-
tact with them. and filled with God
given zeal and enthusiasm in the
working out of the problems which
confront him. That preacher In In
diana who recently gave up his pulpit
in order that he might fill the posi-
ton of town policeman and main
tain the order of the community, a
thing which no one else seemed will
ing or able to do, was actuated by
Divine impulse, and had clear con-
ception of the relation which the
Christian sustains to the state. The
Christian who is willing to enjoy the
security, and prosperity, and liberty
which his nation affords him, and
yet escape the duties and RESPONSE
bilities of citizenship, is dishonoring
God, putting reproach upon the re-
Ggion which he processes and living
q narrow and mean existence.
I INDEPENDENCE Day or Fourth Of
i July which this nation celebrates
every year in memory OF the signing OF
the declaration of independence and
the proclaiming of liberty to the peo-
pie of the thirteen colonies, is not re-
ligious anniversary day, and has not,
on that grounds any claim
upon the Christian for its observation.
But upon the Christian citizens 1t inn
poses its solemn obligations which in
their place and relationship to prac-I
teal daily life are as important as
Christmas or Easter. To think Of the
Fourth Of July in careless and light
vein, to deplore it's. celebration be-
,ause it brings with it so much of
noise and merry making, is to selfishly
disregard the responsibilities and OPP
oortunities of the day and to overlook
Or forget the real purpose of the day
md the reason for its appointment.
Young America wants to make a
noise, of course, and he should be at
forded ample and safe opportunity for
20 doing. But it should not be noise
ust for the bare sake of noise. It
hould not be merry making just be
cause you delight in jolly time. Fire.
.racker and torpedo, cannon and shot
run, skyrocket, Roman candle and PIN
Wheel ought to be made to sound forth
heir message of liberty, and the God
earring patriotism which moved in the
learts of the revolutionary fathers |
md steeled them to act for God and
ZONE and native land. It is unfortun-
tie that SO little of the true patriotic
pirit which marked the celebration |
# the day years ago prevails to-day;
ca, it is even alarming. It should be,
must be revived. Here is where the
hristian citizen has his obligation
nd his opportunity. He should be-
ONE missionary for that truer, bet
er patriotism which is essential TO
he perpetuation and strength of the
alton. II every Christian who recog
ICES the command Of our text would
i've thoughtful anC prayerful consid-
ration to all that is implied in the
GLOWING OF God and walking as chill
rem Of light we believe they would
ome to see that their pathway led
trough q better celebration Of the
'ourth of July and not around or over
J. And they would know that the DAY
eed not and ought not to pass away
,ithout the impress Of their lives be-
II placed upon it. Here then il the
atriotie aspect of the Heavenly call
g and the earthly walk.
ME truest patriot which the Jewish |
nation ever had was Daniel serv-
z faithfully and loyalty in the court
the Babylonian king. Following God
ID walking as child Of light did not
i'd him to develop such religious
az as to put him out of touch with
4 world about him. Rather did it ;
axe him q deep student Of the polit-
Al situation which surrounded him.
nd his masterful grasp Of the affairs s,
state in time gave him the oppor-
nifty to preach the true God and true 1
ligion not only to the king, but the !,
ltion as well. One man following God {,
as able to put the impress Of his
rsonality upon the kingdom and rise
ON slave boy in the heather court to s