The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30
SERMONS ON
THE STRIKE
Pastors Pray for Peace and
Quiet Again.
DIR. HAWTHORNE'S SERMON
Strong Discussion of "The Obligation
of All Men to Respect Civil Au-
thority and to Obey Civil
Law.
DIR. fiAWTHORNE'S SERMON


Sunday about the present troubled con-
diuon OF Richmond and Henrico county.
A number of them prayed that peace and
quiet might como to the city again. One
pastor preached on the subject THY
Kingdom Come" and concluded by re-
marking that the Kingdom OF heaven
was far away from Richmond Just at
present, and that the condition of tho
city at this time showed tho need of
work for the kingdom.
DIR. HAwTHORNE's SERMON.
At the Grove Avenue Baptist Church
a large congregation heard the Rev. DR..
J. b. Hawthorne preach on THE Obliga-
thority and to Obey Civil Law" His
text was Peter. 2:l3 Submit your
selves to every ordinarcs &c man for the
Lords sake He said: "
To unspiritual, unregencrate men, one
Of the most offensive features OF the
gospel IS the law which requires us to
submit to every ordinance of man.
In this commandment God seems to
identify himself with all human govern
ment, even to the extent of supporting
what Is despotic and wrong. II tho
State Of Virginia should require me to
paint my house red, or to wear striped
coat, or to subslst solely upon vegetable
diet, would Christian obligation require
me to obey the ordinance? After q care
full study OF the question nm prepared
to say that 1t would. If the civil nu-
thorities Of Richmond should require me
to keep the front door OF my residence
open every night. would 1t be my Chris
tian duty to submit to the order2 Verify
1t would Submit yourselves to every
ordinance Of man."
In teaching us to obey all civil legisla-
ton and authority. God does not mean
that all civil legislation and all exercise
Of civil authority Is wise and just Nor
& does he mean to forbid us to make every
reasonable and vlrtuous effort to aoolsh
what is wrong in civil government. Chris
tianIty recognizes the falibility OF all
human authority. It's divine author knew
that, to the end of the world, there would
be mistakes and corruptions IN civil
governments. Fidelity to him, as we'll
ms Justice to ourselves and to society,"
requires us to protest against wrong
and to do our utmost to eradicate every
thing that is corrupt and unwlse, either
in the legislation or the administration OF
our country's government.
MONUMENTS OF INFAMY.
Every day I see about me Institutions
which, If Judged by the ethics OF Chris
tianity, are worthy only of the torch
and dynamite. They are monuments OF
infamy; they are gathering places OF
buns. loafers, dead beats. toughs ana
pick pockets; they are training schools
for criminals; they are miniature hells
But as these institutions have the sane
ton OF civil law, Christianity forbids me
to layrviolent hands upon them or to dis,
turb them in the prosecution of their
nefarious business.
While this proposition is incontroverti-
bic, it is equally clear that divine law
requires me to use all moral means at
my command to secure the abolition OF
Huch legalized infamy. There are many
bar-rooms in the city of Richmond
They are the worst enemies to tho purity,
peace and order of Richmond society;
they are lncubators Of lawlessness and
mob violence: they are breeders Of every
vice and crime But under the laws of
the State they have the right to exist.
and Christianity binds me to respect
/ that right To intimldate the keeper OF
one of these dens by threatening injury
to his person or property would be both
unpatrotic and un-Chrlstian. The civil
laws which permit the existence of these
institutions are unrighteous. unwise and
hurtful TO every interest of society and
Christianity .IeauireS me to condemn
them and 70 advocate their removal from
our statute books, Not to do this would
be INSTRUMENTATION TO Christ and Gods
moral government.
The Constitution Of Virginia guaran-
tees 10 every one OF its subjects the right
of trial by jury. 1t confers upon the
officers of the State alone the authority
to punish men Tor the commission or
crime. When men In any community
of the State ignore this organic law and
ret aside civil authority, they are not
only unpatriotic but defiant of moral
law. Mobocracy therefore Is treason,
both to country and God. In any COM
munity where civil government is estab-
lished, there can be no warrant for mob
violence in any form, and the men who
resort to It are criminally and disgrace
fully disobedient both to human and
divine authority
The State of Virginia grants charters
to manufacturing, commercial and other
institutions. II guarantees to those who
invest their money in these institutions
the right to control their own property and
to regulate their own business without
any interference from outside parties.
II 7 and a half dozen other men In this
congregation establish shoe factory
under charter from the Commonwealth
OF Virginia. We have the right to say
whether we will have fifty employees or
five hundred: we hace the right to say
whether we will employ white men or
black men, we have the right to say
whether we will have In our service men
who drink liquor or only men who ire
total abstainers. Knowing better than