The Grenada sentinel., 1903-07-04

but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God" Our fundamental
proposition then is the inseparable
connection which God always has
with the affairs of nations, and the
medium through which He operates
is that of human instrumentalities.
This being true, the worship and
service of God cannot be confined to
the Westinghouse or the closet, but
must extend to political affilia ton,
the admins ration of public affairs,
and every relation which the citizen
is called upon 10 sustain to the COM
munity, city, state or nation. The
Christian must be and ought to be
the mos: loyal, faithful and obedient
citizen. Ills religion must not weak
IN his hand in it's grasp of public af-
fairs. 1t should not lessen his sense
of responsibility to help carry the
burdens of state. 1t is a false note
in religion which makes a 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 Cod
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-
1f n.
tain the order of the community, a
thing which no one else seemed will
ing or able to do, was actuated by a
Divine impulse, and had a 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 responsl-
bilities of citizenship. is dishonoring
God, putting reproach upon the re-
ligion which h: processes and living
a narrow and mean existence.
INDEPENDENCE Day or Fourth of
/ 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-
ple of the thirteen colonies, is not a re-
ligious anniversary day, and has not,
therefore, on that grounds any claim
upon the Christian for its observation.
But upon the Christian citizens 1t i'm
poses it's solemn obligations which in
their place and relationship to prac-
tical daily life are as important as
Christmas or Easter. To think OF the
Fourth of July in a careless and light
vein, to deplore its celebration be-
cause it brings with it so much OF
,, noise and merry making, is to selfishly
disregard the responsibilities and op'
portunities of the day and to overlook
or forget the real purpose of the day
and the reason for its appointment
Young America wants to make q
noise, of course, and he should be at
| forded ample and safe opportunity fo1
so doing. But it should not be noise
| lust for the bare sake of noise. II
| should not be merry making just be
cause you delight in jolly time. Fire
, cracker and torpedo, cannon and shot
| gun, skyrocket, Roman candle and pin
wheel ought to be r: :de to sound forth
their message of liberty, and the God
! fearing patriotism which moved in thu
hearts of the revolutionary father!
and steeled them to act for God ane
home and native land. It is unfortun
ate that so little of the true patriotic
| spirit which marked the celebration
of the day years ago prevails to-day
| yea, it is even alarming. It should be
| it must be revived. Here is where th'
Christian citizen has his obliga tiol
and his opportunity. He should be
come a missionary for that truer, bet
ter patriotism which is essential t,
the perpetuation and strength of thu
nation. If every Christian who recog
nizes the command of our text woult
give thoughtful and prayerful consid
Grafton to all that is implied in tn
following of God and walking as chill
dren of light we believe they woult
come to see that their pathway let
through a better celebration of th'
Fourth of July and not around or ove1
it. And they would know that the day
need not and ought not to pass away
without the impress of their lives be
j ing placed upon it. Here then is th'
patriotic aspect of the Heavenly call
ing and the earthly walk.
THE truest patriot which the Jewisf
! / nation ever had was Daniel serv-
ing faithfully and loyalty in the court
of the Babylonian king. Following Goo
and walking as child oflight did not
lead him to develop such religion.
bias a. to put him out Of touch with
the world about him. Rather did il
make him a deep student of the polit
ical situation which surrounded him
And his masterful grasp Of the affair.
of state in time gave him the oppor
tunity to preach the true God and true
religion not only to the king, but thu
nation a. well. One man following Coz
was able to put the impress Of hi,
/ var~nnalifv . unon tho kfn0130m and ris1