Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-07-01

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 affiliation,
the administration 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 he and ought to be
the most loyal. faithful and obedient
citizen. His religion must not weak
en- his hand in its grasp of public af
fairs. 1t should not lessen his sense
OF responsibility to help carry the
burdens of state. 1t is false note
IN religion which makes man feel
out of tune and out of place at the
political gathering and at the polls.
The Christian, If he follows God and
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 filed 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 u
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 response
bilities of citizenship, is dishonoring
God, putting reproach upon the re-
ligion which he processes and living
a narrow and mean existence.
7 INDEPENDENCE Day or Fourth of
| July which this nation celebrates
every year in memory OF the signing of
the proclaiming of liberty to the peo-
pie of the thirteen colonies. is not u 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 its solemn obligations which in
their place and relationship to prac-
teal 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 il brings with it so much of
noise and merry making, is to selfishly
disregard the possibilities and OPP
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 n
noise. of course, and he should be af-
forded ample and safe opportunity for
so doing. But ii should not be noise
just 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 made to sound forth
their message of liberty, and the God
fearing patriotism which moved in the
hearts of the revolutionary fathers
: and steeled them to act for God and
home and native land. 1t 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. II should be
IL must be revived. Here is where the
Christian citizen has his obligation
and his opportunity. He should be
come a missionary for that truer. bet
ter patriotism which is essential "a
the perpetuation and strength of the
nation. II every Christian who recog-
nizes the command Of our text would
give thoughtful and prayerful consid
Grafton to all that is implied i'm the
following Of God and walking as chill
dren of light we believe they would
come to see that their pathway led
through a better celebration of the
Fourth of July and not around or over
it. And they would know that the day
need not and ought not to pass away
without the impress Of their lives be-
ing placed upon H. Here then is the
patriotic aspect Of the Heavenly call
ing and the earthly walk
THE truest patriot which the Jewish
i nation ever had was Daniel sery-
ing faithfully and Loyalty i'm the court
Of the Bsbylonian king. Following God
and walking as a child Of light did not
lead him to develop such religious
bias as TO put him out Of touch with
the world about him. Rather did il
make him deep student of the polit-
ical situation which surrounded him.
And his masterful grasp OF the affairs
of state in time gave him the oppor-
tunity to preach the true God and true