The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-20
A CITIZENS DUTY
RENDER UNTO CAESAR THINGS
THAT ARE CAESARS.
CHRIST NO POLITICIAN.
COUNsELED OBEDIENCE TO MEN
IN AUTHORITY.

Rev. John ID. Jordan at First Bap-
fist Church Preached Upon the
Duty of a Citizen to His Country
and His GOd-FOreigners Settled
Savannah and the Place Has Not
Fared So Badly on That Account.
Government Cannot LegisIate Re-
IigiOn and Should Not Make Such
Attempt.
In the First Baptist Church last
night Rev. John D. Jordan preached a
strong and forcible sermon before a
large congregation, taking as his text
Render. therefore, unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars; and unto
God the things that are Gods" The
argument was to the effect that by the
command of Christ the Lord, the peo-
pie were hidden to obey the powers
that be, giving unto those in authority
intelligent obedience and support and
paying heed to the laws which were
made for the good of the whole people,
and meanwhile not neglecting the re-
ligious duties which are due to God.
In his introductory demarks the min
lister said that it was not possible for
everybody to agree on any subject.
There are bound to be differences Of
opinion among men, and it was not
the less so in the pulpit than in other
walks of life. When two men disagree
one is certain to be wrong-but some
times there can be two persons hold
ing strong and diverse opinions, and
both be wrong. In Savannah, he said,
it seemed that the people have agreed
to disagree about many things.
AS an incident the Council wants to
build a new city hall, and now comes
a protest from some, who wished to
preserve the old Exchange because it
is a relic. The reasonable conclusion,
he said, seemed to be that when a
thing has outlived it's usefulness it
should give way The Tabernacle had
to give way for the Temple, in Scrip
tural history, and in life the caterpillar
gives way to the butterfly.
Disagree About Foreigners.
"Then there are some who cannot
seem to agree about the foreigners.
Some say that they are not a benefit,
and smite them; others are ready to
defend them and say that the infusion
of new blood is the best thing that
the community can have 1t is a mat
ter of history that this city was
founded by foreigners, and maybe 1t
will be just as we'll not to probe too
deeply into the reasons why they came
here.
IT know some of the foreigners and
they are doing much for the COM
munity. one that 1 recall started off
the subscription for the Southern Bap-
fist convention with $50 note, that
was pretty good for a foreigner and
he was not even a Christian.
preachers often disagree, and just
now they are discussing as to the at
titude of Christ. Some say that He
was a politician and others claim that
He was not. But in the text that
have selected, which will be found,
Matthew, %, q, Christ is in the midst
of the politicians, and his words seem
to entirely divorce the matters of
church and state.
'There were four parties assembled,
and their plan was to enlist or place
Christ in one party or another that
they might then work up case
against Him. The Pharisees, the
Saducees, the Herodites and the Ad-
ministration party were all gathered
about 1t was a joint committee from
the two first mentioned parties that
approached Christ and asked Him If 1t
was right for the Jews to pay tribute
to Caesar. He asked for coin, and
when they told Him that Caesars head
was marked upon this piece of money
He replied in the words of the text.
1t was as much as to say that they
should give heed to the laws and the
government under which they lived,
and at the same time give unto God
the homage and obedience that He
commanded.
Must obey the Authorities.
"Religion is not intended to reduce
the obligations to civil authority. we
must give respect to our judges, our
President, our Governor, our Mayor.
The Lord never is found to have in
dulged in vituperation or abuse of
those in temporal power He knew that
Caesar was not a good man, but ne
was the King, the ruler, and his coun-
sci and advice was for all good citl-
zens to obey their ruler. st. Paul ad-
Vised his brethren to obey the King,
and yet we know that the King at that
time was none other than Nero,
wicked man-and yet the ruler. His
counsel was always for obedience to
the law And if st. Paul would hesi-
tate to denounce Nero then should we
not pause and consider before denounc-
ing those in authority?
1.-THE governments rights stop at
religion and no government in the world
has any right to say to any people
how, or when or in what form they
shall worship God. We go to the gov
eminent and ask for a proper obServ-
ance of the Lords day, not on religious
grounds, but because we claim that
it is better for man, morally, physical
ly and intellectually, that he have one
day in the week with freedom to worship
God, as he chooses and if he chooses.
The idea of religious liberty is funda-
mental and the government cannot
legislate religion into a people, or legis-
late it out of people. When the gov
eminent steps in and undertakes 10
dictate in religious matters it trans
crosses my rights in a manner that will
not be tolerated"
DR.. Jordan's concluding words con-
sisted of an appeal to the people to
remember the Lords day and keep IT
holy, and to render unto God the
things that are Gods; not meanwhile
| neglecting the obligations due to the
! civil government in which they live,
I