The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-25
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY TIE
REV. M. w. STRYKER.

"Democracy and Christianity the Sub
President of Hamilton College, Clin-
ton, n. Y.-The Peoples Day Advances.
NEW YORK CITY. - Democracy and
Christianity was the subject of a forcsful
sermon by the Rev. DR.. M. w. Stryker,
President Of Hamilton College, Clinton, N.
Y, in the Brick Presbyterian Church, Sun
day morning. DR.. Stryker said:
1t is not always remembered that, on its
human side, Moses founded republican
form Of government. 1t was to be main
tanned through popular representation. The
failure was in Israel, not in the idea. When
Samuel anointed Saul he did it under sol
emn protest. 1t was relapse from privil.
ege. Kings were a makeshift and it turned
out badly.
Seeking sound philosophy of man and
his affairs, and distinguishing humanity
from it's utensils and furniture, I would
earnestly attempt the connotation of the
two words which state-each in its own
way, but with the strongest mutual bear
ing-the whole hope of mankind: Democ-
racy, Christianity. You may run out, IN
their reach and width, the many PROPOSE
tions which can now only utter, not am
plfy., l have only time for the broadax
and the ADJ.
used the word "mankind"-that is,
man-kinned - related. cousined, brothers.
When Paul, the apostle, speaks (literallyl
OF "the whole fatherdom in heaven and
earth"-he afirms the broad and clemen-
tai gospel theorem of the common origin,
Germ Ger Of ali humanity. "God hath made of
one blood In one spirit all baptized
into one body"-such phrases characterize
this whole new covenant and contemplate
the Encouragement of the world.
A unity of privilege, duty, affection-a
common derivation, development and goal
the doctrine of the essential solidarity of
man. To affirm this is the instinct, the
infrangible purpose of the gospel. Either
this mutually, this cohesive and integral
ing impulse, working its way steadily, how
ever slow its stages, or at last sterile race
and shattered star!
Economics? 1t is the law of the worlds
housekeeping. Politics-it is mans COM
mon citizenship. Philanthropy, equity, law,
ethics, religion-these are the bonds that
transcend race and region and date. Be
fore their scope provincialism passes into
insignifcance History is the record of
the painful but steady evolution of human
unity-homogeneity. Sociology is ethics.
This is the increasing purpose" of time.
Mans nature involves society. he Is en-
vironed by his fellows. He is born into
and constructed for their close relation.
This is his irrevocable constitution-the
bylaws. The one inevitable, the others
provisional and tentative. These are
changed and shaken, that remains. The
definition and practical ordering of this
relation, whether by means better or
worse, the assertion of partnership and
federation, in whatever degree of wisdom
the assertion of common veal Tor woe)
this is government.
However they have blundered, OF slut
tered, or fumbled, the experiment toward
the organizing of human life and its activi:.
ties have been experiments in search Of
fair and fruitful terms under which men
may live together. Perceived OF unseen,
the ends of government are to secure the
well being Of men as. men, and that must
be the best government which most et.
fectually seeks the utmost welfare of all
within its control-which seeks a right
and equitable society. AS a means to this
end it is strong and sacred, as a means to
any other ends it is stultifed.
1t concerns US, then, at once to note the
names and essential implications of the
several schemes and forms of government
(or ways of getting on together) which
men have attempted and exhibited.
Autocracy-the rule of one man. cen,
responsible only to himself. "L'etat cest
moi" Absoluteism-an imperfect man
cannot, perfect man would not; for
either way individually is frustrated. Des-
potism is misanthropic.
Monarchy-which ordinarily implies a
degree of consent and delegation of pow
er, and has wide limits according as the
subjects have great or small influence.
The forms of monarchy are not inconsis-
tent with real popular power, only then
their terminology is an anachronism and
their retention superfuous and absurd
expense.
Plutocracy is the rule of wealth-the
power of money holders as such: II is
subtle and subversive of men. That it
goes by community of interest" by 81
tate, but makes possible expressions not
less actual because insidious and una
vowed. 1t has ruined great peoples. For
Community of the interested" is widely
diverse from the interest of the communi-
ty. The peoples also Cannot serve God
and mammon." PlutocTacy is rot COM
monwealth. Veal itself is not mere
wealth. The word wealth" begs the
question. Plutus was blind! .
OGgarchy, the "few''' in power, whether
q clique, bureau, machine" or ring,
Grated. Its selectness and separateness
and virtual assumption is it's odium. Its
irresponsibility is its vice. Its selfish
ness is its defeat 1t refuses to share.
Aristocracy, literally the rule Ey the
best, ideally an excellent term and thing,
practically, however, the self-elected at
their own rating-what one has called "the
fine irony of an entailed nobility" Here
ditary privilege tainted with pride and
superciliousneSs and snobbery and the dry
rot of these-a non.sequitus. still exploit
ing the many for the few, class preroga.
tive and the non-human prescriptions Of
caste. The "best" should rule in the in,
terests of what is good, but the self.styled
best, nursing their own eXclusiveness, may
become the worst.
Anarchy! Contradiction in terms! The
law of lowiessness, the rule of caprice and
all violence, denying authority. in that
license which is the parody and ruin OF
true liberty Freedom cruslsd under the
absoluteism of the mob!
Theocrscy the reign of God, actual
while God is God, truly realized in univer-
sal recognition of Him "the first and the
last and the living one;" but never dele
gated to any vicegerent, installed in the
common consent OI Tree coHsclences dEu
when usurped by kingcraft or priestcraft
the basest perversion Of the highest truth.
Democracy: Self-government by the
people. The dignity of the people is the
intention of their Creator. He who is the
source of this self-rule,, is also its only Sc
curity. Each man with. not apart from.
every other. directly and jointly respon-
sble to God. The highest law fna.-man
absolved from all nsurpations, and, as a
man. secured in the perfect freedom of
the largest obedience. Democracy may be
a name for the mere tyranny of the multi
tude-a subservient mass prey to passion
and to schemers who are its panderers-
fattering while they degrade. But then