The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-03
PUBLISHED BY RrQuESr.

PUBLISHED BY REouEsT.
~Then saith He unto them. Render therefor unto
Caesar the things which are CteSars; and unto God
the things that arc God s-"-Matt KILL II.
In accordance with the proclamation of the Presi-
dent OF the United States appointing day the
nation give thanks to God for the blessings which
He has given us people, we are here assembled
We recognize the fact, that although many of our
blessings and mereies come through the labor of
hands. yet Heavenly Father is the source of
all our temporal and spiritual blessings 1t is He
who las made the rich and beautiful land in which
we live, who is the author of the laws of nature
through which His wise and benefcent Providence
is ever at work for our welfare and happiness; no
nation people has ever been blessed we are
blessed The vast size of territory its salubri-
Gus climate, the richness of its stores Of minerals
the produeuveness of its SOIL the liberty granted by
government for the free and unchecked develop
ment of all the talents of contribute to its
present greatness and are indicative of further
progress which the mind of man cannot grasp. We
viii not dwell on this theme 1t is a familiar one
to you ALL The American citizen is not likely to
forget the greatness of his country. For all that
has been given in the past for the guiding hand
of our Heavenly Father, who has led us safely
through perils and trials 10 the peace and pros
perity in the midst of which are living, for
all that have, aud for what a nation
let us humbly thank our Heavenly Father, and let
us here now resolve that we viii show appre-
citation of our blessings by endeavoring be true
to the responsibilities which rest upon 1t is
universal truth that privileges involve responsible
tiles but truth that are very liable to forget
The greater country is in its population. in
its pToduetveness. in its institutions and govern
ment the greater is the responsibility hieh rests
upon it. and the greater wiz be its failure if IT
should not meet its responsibilities The eyes Of the
whole world watching America to see what her
policy is, what the motives which are inhuenc-
ing her actions, what are her principles, and what
is the measure of her success in meeting and solv-
ing wisely the national and international problems
which CONFRONT her Great is our country. Equally
great is The responsibility which rests upon IT,
1t may not be inappropriate on this occasion to
ask you TO consider responsibility which rests
upon as Christian citizens For this purpose
have chosen the words of the text Render there
fore unto Cesar the things which are caesars; ard
unto God the things that are Gods"
These words were spoken by Christ in answer 10
a question put To Him by tine Pharisees and the
Herodians rs it lawful to gi7e tribuie to Caesar
noll'' This question had excited the whole Jewish
nation and stirred to the depths their most pro
found religious feelings. CsessT :he Roman EN-
peror had conquered Palestine. For the Jews 60
live under the dominion OF tins heathen world
power to be compelled TO see daily the Gentle si-
der under the the very shadow Of the temple
and quariered in the holy city and to pay 10
the support Of this heather government was the
very depth of national humiliation aud disgrace.
Scarcely any eaalnity evil could. in their minds
be greater than this. and 20 support Ibis heather
and corrupt government was utterly abhorrent to
their religions feelings Il was government in
their opinion. arrayed against the God Of Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob and to pay tribute 70 il
denial Of the one tFue God.
The Pharisees. who claimed 10 be the stTictesi
observers Of the law of Moses. the most bitter
against The Roman government The HerodAHs
who we're the court party tfiei to compromise the
matter by saying that because King Hernd. who
regncd in Pale tine by virtue Of sappoiutmeu, by
Cesar, was jew, it was not inconsistent with the
Jewish religion to recognize his authority ana 10
pay tribute to the COS, rnmeuL Nov ,hese tNo
parties the Pharisees aud the Herodiaus laid tap
for Chris. We are told that The Pharisees took
counsel how they might eutangle Him III lii tAik
and they associated the Hercdlans with ,hem-
They cane t. Christ with words OF satte-y Mas
ter we know that thou art true ana tesehest the
way OF God IN truth neither cArcsl thou Tor aus
man: fog thou resardest not the person Of men Tell
us therefore. what ihinkest thOns II IS lawful 10
give tribate to CIesar or nots' The question was
the burning question n ;he day. They weFe sare
that it eoald be answered n only Que % tWo ways
by yes or no. Aud. no matter which answer Christ
would give He would entrap Himself II He would
say yes. il IS lawful 10 give tribute To Csar they
would use His answer among the Jews in order 10
incense them against Him who claimed 10 be their
Messiah. They would charge Him with disEoyalty
to His own people. and with denial Of the one
True God who was their only Lord ard King. II
he would say no It IS not lawful TO give tribute 10
Cesar. they would lodge complaint against Him
before the Roman authorities for teaching sedifou
and reteliious doctrines They were quite sure
that they had Christ in trap. and that He could
not get out no matter which way He would tgru.
They were utterly unprepared for the answer hieh
they received. Jesus perceived their wieksdness
and said. why tempt re me. ye hypocritesg show
me The tribute money. and they brought unto Him
penEs. and He saith unto them. Whose is this image
and Superscripti0ng They say unto Hin. Caessr-s
Then saith He unto them. Render therefore unto
Cesar the things which are Csesars and unto Cod
the things thatare Gods.
The answer OF our Saviour Is perhaps the wi.est
answer ever given 70 any question Certainly IL Is
the wisesl which could possibly be made in This
case, and We are not surprised that His enemies
''usarvelled. and left him. and weni their wAy"
These words give Us the position OF Our Lord in
regard TO all the political questions of Ills day and
they rule by which His disciples ia every age
are To be governed. In the words Of the text lie
enuneiAies principle or truth Of universal appiiea-
ton Render unto cRser the things that arr ca
sars.n The truth here stated Is that every has
certain obligations and responsibilities towards the
government under whose protection he live aud
whose coin he accepts He has also certain ohliga-
sftsH
God tile things that Gods Thesc Obligations
and responsibilities are dissimiaf but not antaeo-
nistie
Christ teaches that every man oagh, 10 meet his
political obligations aud responsibilities; that Is be
a politician. one Of the gravesi peeiis which
fronts country is the indifference of many Eood
men 10 their political obligations and duties Many
good men do not seem to know that ihey have such
a thing political duty Ia the home they are
good men. faithful husbands and kind fathers. Ia
the church they are generous and reliable. Bot in
the world Of politics they Feereant toevegy duty
and false to every trust So low have we sunken in
our conception IL civic virtue and 50 scared is our
conscience that it il not uncommon to hear good men
say know nothing about politics and l do not
want TO ksos anything. l want nothing to do with
politicians or political affairs-as though such az
attitude were evidence Of superior type Of virtue
and the browning excellence OF an ideal American
citizen. When good men run away from their most
sacred obligations, no wonder that graf, cuTrup-
ton. blaekmail and bribery infes our politics aud
are found even in our legislative halls. How
did we ever get into this depiorable condition.
Who is responsible for this wholesale neglect Of
political responsibilities aud duties
The pulpit / think, is in part to blame Preach.
ers. as class have not instructed their Congrega-
tons, 1t is their duty TO do in the principles and
aims Of government and concerning the duties |
which Christians owe 10 their State and nation. |
There various explanations for this lamentabls
neglect The Church has always been disgraced by 4
few ministers who have never been able 70 preach
politics without degenenting into partisans OF 1
In the enthusiasm of political ex- /
element they have converted their pulpits into 1
political rostrums. 1t is because few uuhalant ed
individuals have degenerated from prophets into 1
partIsans that there has grown up in the Church /
rAs general feeling that ministers had better LET pol
itic> alone.
And Mis- is true if BY politics yon the discus
sion of qsestious purely economic or the compare
tive merits q rival candidates parties but 1t
not true, if you mean by politics the principles and
ends of government and the service and art of gov
erning and the application Of the fundamental
principles and truths q Christianity to the state
And this is what politics Is It is noble calling.
but it needs to be redeemea reclaimed and lifted
up from the low, mereenary and selfish plane into
E.VA