The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-11-11
A FORCEFUL SERMON
democracy and Christianity" By Rev.
N. W. Stryker.
Brilliant Argument BY the President Of liam
ilton College, Clinton, N. Y.--,Peo.
pies Day Advances.

srmon by the Rev. DIR. M. w. STRIKER,
President of Hamilton College, Clinton, N.
T., in the Brick Presbyterian Church, Sum
dsy morning. DR.. Stryker said: 4
II is not always remembered that, on its
human side, Moses founded a republican
form Of, government. 1t was to be main
hned through popular representation. The
failure was in Israel, not IN the idea. Whent
Samuel anointed Saul he did it under sol.
emn protest. 1t was q relapse from privil-
sge. Kings were makeshift and 1t turned
ont badly.
Seeking a sound philosophy of man, and
his affairs, and distinguishing humanity
from its 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-
ncy, Christianity. You may run out, in
their reach and width, the many PROPOSE
tons which can now only utter, not am
pfy.. l have only time for the broadax
and the adz ,.... 4
l used the word "mankind"-that is,
man-kinned - related, cousined, brothers..
When Paul, the apostle, speaks QiteralyG
Of 'the whole fatherdom in heaven and
earth"-he affirms the broad and clemen-
tai gospel theorem of the common origin,
Germ Of all 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. =. 4
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
Intangible purpose of the gospel. Either
this mutually, this cohesive and integral
ing impulse, working it's way steadily, how
ever slow its stages, or at last sterile race
and a shattered star! .tH 4
Economics? It 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 Rrovincialism passes int,
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
This is his irrevocable constitution-the
means toward it, better or worse, are but
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 w0e)
this is government. /
However they have blundered, or slut.
tered, or fumbled, the experiment toward
the organizing of human life and its ACTIVE
ties have been experiments in search of
fair and fruitful terms under which men
may live together. Perceived or unseen,
the ends OF government are to secure the
well being OF men as men, and that must
be the best government which most eff
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 stultiied. E"it
1t concerns us, then, at once to note the
names and essential implications of the
Tor ways of getting on together) which
men have attempted and exhibited. h
Autocracy-the rule Of one man, cen-p
responsible only to himself "t'etat c'est
moi" Absoluteism-an imperfect man
cannot, perfect man would not; for
either way individually is frustrated. Des-
potism is misantbropic. . 4
Monarchy-which ordinarily implies
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 anaehronism and
their retention a superhuons and absurd
expense. t,I a
IS RUE OI Wtultu-lHe
power of money holders as such. 1t is
subtle and subversive of men. That it
goes by Community OF interest" by 81!
lent arithmetic. does not indeed necessi-
tate, but makes possible expressions not
less actual because insidious and una
community of the interested" is widely
diverse from the interest of the communi.
ty.. The peoples also cannot serve God
and mammon." Plutocracy is not com.
monwealth::. Veal itself is not mere
question Tsslth Psus Phs wSFa %s. EedA bad 0ss' the
Oligarchy, the few in power, whc.' her
a clique, a bureau, machine" or a ring,
and by whatsoever means installed and tol.
Grated. It's selectness and separateness
and virtual assumption is its odium. Its
irresponsibility is its vice. Its selfish
'Aristocracy, literally the rule by the
best, ideally an excellent term and thing,
practically, however, the self-elected at
their own rating-what one has called "the
hne 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 exclusiyeness, may
become the worst. I
Anarchy! Contradiction in terms! The
law of lowlessness, the rule OF caprice and
AL violence, denying authority in that
license which is the parody and ruin OF
true liberty! Freedom crushed under the
absoluteism of the mob |
Theocracy = the reign of God, actual
while God is God, truly realized in univer-
2l recognition of Him the fret and the
last and the living one;" but never dele
gated to any vicegerent, installed in the
common consent OF free conseiences and
when rsurped by kingcraft or priestcrafe
me basest perversion Of the highest truth.
Democracy: Self-goyernment 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 se-
curity. Each man with, not apart from,
every other, directly and jointly respon,
slble to God. The highest law fnal-inan
aesolved from all usurpatiops, and, az a
man, secured in the perfect freedom of
the largest obedience. Democracy may be
name for the mere tyranny OF the multi!
tude-a subservient mass prey to passion
and to schemers who are its panderers-
htsttering while they degrade. But then
,he rule" is lost, and the demos is by
his means thwarted of his ends. Democ-
iaey is ideal when it meets all the con-
ditions of total responsibility TO God
when in tho high peerage Of that loyalty
q creature to Creator all neighbors lova
Al neighbors Us one family Of the highests
Love, vertical and lateral, is its law-ths
Perfect law Of liberty"
Therefore, i hold both that Christianity
intends democracy, and that only in its
Hfsahilty can democracy thrive, or endure.