The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-11-13

Democracy and Christianity," the Sub
ject OF forcefuI Argument by the
President OF Hamilton College, Clin-
ton, y. N.-Ihe Peoples Day Advances.
NEW YORK CITY. - Democracy and
Christianity was the subject of a forc,tl
sermon by the Rev. Dr. NJ. W. Stryker,
President OF Ecmllton College, Clinton, y.
Y. IN the Brick Presbyterian Church sun
day morning. Or. stryker said:
liz Is not always remembered that. on its
human side. Moses founded a republican
form OF government. 1t was 10 be main
tanned through popular representation. The
failure gas IN Israel. not IN the idea. When
Samuel cnolnted saul he did II under SOL
emn protest 1t was a relapse from privil-
ege. Kings were makeshlit ana II turned
out badly.
Seeking a sound philosophy of man and
his affairs, and Distinguishing humanity
from Is utensils and furniture, / would
earnestly attempt the connotation OF the
two words which state-eaCh IN its own
way. but with the strongest mutual bear
lng-the whole hope OF mankind. Democ-
racy, Christianity. You may run out. IN
their reach and width, the many proposi.
tloas which / can now only utter, not am
pliy. l have only time Tor the broadax
and the ADJ.
used the word "mankind"-that is,
man-kinned - related, couslned, brothers
When Paul, the apostle, speaks literally
OF the whole iatherdom in heaven and
earth he atiirms the broad and Clemen.
tai gospel thcOrom OF the common origin,
the common opportunity, the common con
Germ OF all humanity. God hath made Of
one blood In one spirit all baptized
lnto one body'-such phrases characterize
this whole new covenant and contemplate
the rearrangement of the world.
\ unity OF privilege. duty, affection-a
common derivation. development and goal
the doctrine OF the essential solidarity OF
man. 10 affirm this Is the instinct, the
lntranEble purpose of the gospel. Either
tins mutualty, this cohesive and integral
ing impulse. working its way steadily, how
ever slow It's stages, or at last a sterile race
and a shattered star,
Economies? IL is the law of the worlds
Housekeeping. Pohtlcs-it is mans COM
mon citizenship. Philanthropy, equity, law,
ethics, rehglon-these are the bonds that
transcend race and region aud date. Be
fore their scope provlncialism passes into
lnsignihcance. History is the record OF
the painful but steady evolution Of human
unlty-homogenelty Sociology Is ethics.
Ihls 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 j. his irrevocabie constitution-the
means toward it, better or worse, are but
bylaws. The one inevitable, the others
provisional and tent tive. 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 a common veal Tor woe)
this Is government.
However they have b,undered. or slut
tered, or fumbled. the experiment toward
the organizing of human life and its activi.
ties have been experiments IN search OF
ialr and fruitful terms under which men
may live together. Perceived or unseen,
the ends OF government are TO secure the
well beng OF men as men, and that must
be the best government which most ei
fectually seeks the utmost welfare OF all
within its contro.-whlch seeks a right
and equitable society. As a means 20 this
end it Is strong and sacred, as a means to
any other ends II Is stultifed.
II concerns us, then, at once TO note the
names and essential implications Of ;he
several schemes and forms OF government
Tor ways OF getting on together) which
men have attempted and exhibited
AutoCracy-the rule of one man, cen
tering all power in his own person and
responsible only to himself. "L'ctat ccst
moi Absoluteism-an imperfect man
cannot, a perfect man would not; for
either way individually is frustrated. Des-
potsm is mlsanthroplc.
Al
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 TECHNOLOGY Is an anachronism and
their retention superiiuous and absurd
expense
P.utocracy is the rule of wealth-thc
power OF money holders as such IL is
subtle and subyersive OF men. That 1t
goes by community of interest by ST.
lent arithmetic, does not indeed necessi-
tate, but makes possible expressions not
less actual because Insidlous and una
vowed. 1t has ruined great peoples. For
community OF the interested ls widely
diverse from the interest of the communi-
ty. The peoples also cannot serve God
and naTmon.' PlutocTaCy Is rot com
monwealth. Veal itself Is not more
wealth. The word wealth" bcgs the
question. Plutus was blind!
OhCarchy. the few IN power, whether
a clique, a bureau. machine" or a ring,
and by whatsoever means installed and t5l-
Grated. Its seiectness and separlteucss
and virtual assumption Is ITS odlum. It's
lrresponsIblity Is its vice. Its selfish.
ness Is Its defeat. II refuses to share.
Arlstocracy. literally the rue lv the
best, ideally an excellent term and thing,
practically, however, the seifclected at
their own ratng-what one has called the
hne irony of an eutailCd nobility Here
dltary privilege tainted with pride and
superciEousness and snobhcry and the dry
rot OF these--a nOn.sequitus. still exploit
ing the many for the few, class prerogl-
tive and the non-human prescriptions Of
caste. The best should rule IN the IN
terests OF what Is good, but the seli.stylcd
best, nursing their own exclusIvcncss, may
become the worst.
Anarchy, Contradiction in terms The
law OF lOwiesspess. 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,
Iheocracy - 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 10 any vlcegerent, installed IN the
common consent OF free consciences and
when usurped by kingcraft or priestcrafl
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 seif.rule. j. also it, only se-
curity. Each man with, not apart from
every other, directly and Jointly respon-
sl5le 20 God. The highest law hna,-Inan
absolved from all usurpations, and. as
man. secured in the perfect freedom Of
the largest obedience Democrac; may be
name for the mere tyranny OF the mutt
tude-a subservent masA prey 90 pass. on
and 20 schemer- VINO are Its pauderCrs-
fattering while they dezrade But then
the rule u lost. and the demos is by
his means thwarted Of his ends Dcm0c.
racv Is ideal when IL meets al the con-
ditIons Of total responsibility Go Cod
when IN tic high peeragc of that loyalty
oi creature 20 Creator AZ neighb0rs love
all ueIgnnOrs as one family Of the highest