The news & observer., 1905-11-05
the State.

that last will and testament of the
Father of his Country to the people he
loved better than life-uttered these
wise words:
"Of all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity, re-
ligion and morality are indispensable
| supports. In vain would the men
claim the tribute of patriotism who
should labor to support these great
i pillars of human happiness, these fore
| most props of the duties of men and
citizens. The mere politician, equally
/ with the pious man, ought to respect
and cherish them. A volume could not
! trace all their connections with pri-
vate and public felicity. Let it simply
be asked where is the security for
! property for reputation, for life, if the
sense of religious obligation desert the
oaths which are the instruments Of in
! vestigation in courts of justice? And
let us with caution indulge the sup
position that morality can be main
tanned without religion. Whatever
may be conceded to the influence OF
refined education on minds of peculiar
structure, reason and experience both
forbid us to expect that national mo-
rality can prevail in exclusion of re-
igious' principle"
Preachers Duty to State.
l wish now to state, with all the
clearness and emphasis possible, my
conception of a preachers duty as 81
patriot-his obligations AMI reSpons;-
bilities to the State:
First-IIis call and conservation to
the ministerial office does not absOvc
him from the sacred duties of citizen
ship. The high functions of an Ameri-
can freeman he ought to exercise with
lpatriotic fidelity and under the sane
tions Of a Christian conscience.
Second-But he sustains the same
pastoral and spiritual relation 10 iren
Of different and divergent polltic' |
views he should never be active in
party politics. The mitre and the
crown should never encrcle the same
brow; the crozier and the scepter
should never be welded by the same
hand.
Third-With evefything that affects
personal characters sud social morality
land, therefore. national destiny. the
preacher should have deep and divine
lconcern. He cannot be Indifferent TO
Ipublic morals without an impeach-
ment Of his divine commission to
preach a gospel of redemption.
Fourth-The moral phases of all
public questions are legitimate themes
of pulpit discourse and cause for min
isterial solicitude. Christianity is a
present-day religion. It's vital prin-
ciples are tile rules for daily life and
the highest insD rations to noblest en-
deavor. Whatever violates these prin-
cipIes and, therefore, imperls the in
dividual and the State we must anta5
onize with all the uncompromising
firmness of q Hebrew prophet and all
the intrepid carneStneSS of a divinely
ordained apostle. And yet some poi
ticianS of the smaller sort affect great
alarm when a minister, insists upon
applying the eternal and unalteraoie
principles of the gospel to the con
duct OF public affairs. SO long as we
limit our discussions to the fall OF
Adam or the Affections of Job or the
story of Jacob, they approve and ap-
pIaud But dare to apply the ethics of
the Man of Gallilec to the rum traf-
fic the gambling mania, the social
evil, political corruption or the Secu-
lariZing Of our Christian Sabbath and
then are heard the solemn warnings
against preachers in politics and mix
ing politics and relig on The same
cry was. heard against Elijah and
Elisha, the great prophets Of the olden
time, and yet they were really tho
Ifrmest pillars of the empire. For such
fidelity to his country Isaiah was per-
secuted to the death, Jeremiah en-
dured long imprisonment, Paul was
| beaten with many stripes, and the he
roic in all ages have encountered the
fierce hostility of an ungodly world
SavonaroIa's One Error.
In order to make my positions yet
clearer | call attention to the strik
ing historic illustration we have in the
suggestive story of Savonarola. An
| eloquent preacher, a fearless patriot,
a mighty reformer, he was the most
conspicuous figure in the history of his
| times. His voice rang out like the
notes of bugle, arouSlng the people
out of MORAL and political sleep, and
called a nation back to God. His
Inghtiest weapon was the preached
gospel He thundered forth the judg-
ments of God and wrought revo-
luton in the thought and life of the
people. Then he made the fatal mis-
| take of assuming the functions of
political dictator. The great preacher
became a civil ruler. He made and
unmade judges. governors and magls-
trates. In a word, the monk Decame
a prince Had he contented himself
with arousing and developing moral
sentiment and urging that it be crys
| tallized into constitution and statutory
| law, to he administered by those Spe-
cially charged with the functions of
civil government, the reforms he in
stituted would have been more perma-
nent and far-reachlnS.
| AS an illustration of an extreme vie"
on the other side, mention the case
of Father Mathew. the apostolic cham
pion of temperance in Ireland The
movement he inaugurated swept over
his native Erin like some great wave
of the sea- and effected retorma-
ton amounting to a reVoluuon. Ihou-
sands were reclaimed from besotted
habits Desolate homes and hearts
We're made to blossom as the rose.
Crime decreased everywhere until jail
keepers we're almost without an occu-
patton. But Father Mathew made the
fatal mistake. When he held a nation
in his hand-when the moral senti-
ment of the people had been aroused
to sublime passion-he let the su-
nreme monant pass. and Ireland again
lasped into its old ways. That SEN
into p prohibitory l law. and the results
of the mighty movement securely pre-
served. Seeing the enthusiasm chilled