Newport weekly independent., 1903-07-03


 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 meeting-house 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 Chris tian must be and ought to be the most loyal faithful and obedient citizen. His religion must not weak en 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 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 NoAiNo uo dlSSlPlC Ol tiS hhS ID 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 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- tion 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 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 responsi- bilities of citizenship, is dishonoring God, putting reproach upon the re- ligion which he professes and living narrow and mean existence.
 I TNDEPENDENCE Day or Fourth of l 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- pie of the thirteen colonies, is not re- ligious anniversary day, and has not, therefore, on that grounds any claim upon the Christian for its observation. But upon the Christian citizens it im- 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 a noise, of course, and he should be af- forded ample and safe opportunity for so doing. But it should not be noise | just for the bare sake of noise. It 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 1 fearing patriotism which moved in the hearts of the revolutionary fathers l and steeled them to act for God and | 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, l it must be revived Here is where the l Christian citizen has his obliga tion and his opportunity. He should be- come a missionary for that truer, bet ter patriotism which is essential to the perpetuation and strength of the nation. If every Christian who recog- nizes the command of our text would give thoughtful and prayerful consid- eration to all that is implied in the following of God and walking as chil- dren of light we believe they would come to see that their pathway led | through DclbCI CCiCpl Ol tiS 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 it. Here then is the patriotic aspect of the Heavenly call ing and the earthly walk.
 THE truest patriot which the Jewish
 l nation ever had was Daniel serv- ing faithfully and Loyalty in the court of the BabyIonian 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 it make hip deep student of the polit- ical situation which surrounded him.
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