The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-02-28

ciodl ", vlsion as TO What may be right
y, Justly and properly demanded Of
one, N cOnsid delation Of, and by reason
OF the privileges and responsibilities SO
cured by and involved in citizenship.
No means then are to be deepised or
should be ignored, or neglected,
which i' will operate an educational
ill influence and a possible aid in bring
ing about a healthful change in the
unfortunate condition above spoken
Of. This brings me to the considera:
tionof:
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AS a FACTOR IN
THE THE REARING OF GOOD CITIZENS
A citizen is one of the number,
greater Or smaller, Of people who
occupy ascertaip tract of land which
we call acountry. Life in this coun-
try IS more or less agreeable in pro-
portion to the quality of its citizen
ship. We congratulate ourselves
when we live in country whose sta
tutory enactments, whose laws are
such that they will, if properly en-
forced, insure to the inhabitants
thereof, the best possible comfort,
happiness and prosperity. Logically
then, each inhabitant is directly inter-
ested in the enactment Of good laws
and IN their proper enforcement. It
further follows that as the laws
OF country emanate from, and are
created by its citizens, the character
OF these citizens becomes a matter of
supreme importance; a pule stream
does not flow from an impure feun-
tain; Wise legislation does not pro-
ceed from an unwise source; menldo
not gather grapes from thorns or figs
from thistles. There are good citizens
and bad citizens; the character of
each citizen is largely determined by
his environment il early youth. As
rule he. is good or bad, useful and
helpful, or useless and drag, a
menace to society, according to infu-
ences which have surrounded him
from chRsFhood TO manhood. Coed
Icitizans will consider themsel yes un-
der obligation to exert an influence in
the direction of wise legislation, will
themselves be obedient to law and
will encourage due observance of law
in others. As society is now consti.
tuted, laws are necessary, and it is OF
the utmost Importance that people
should be convinced that obedience
to law, is conducive to the welfare of
a country and of each Individual in
habtan5 thereof that a disregard OF
law aud a failure to inset obligations
on the part of any citizen inevitably
Heads to disorder, discomfort, unhap.
piness and loss We are under posi-
tive obligation to sustain the laws, the
benefits arising from which, we
cheerfully and willingly appropriate.
A man came to the U. S. with avoxed
Intention Of teaching anarchy, lie.
a disregard Of law and the constituted d
authorities; he was refused admission
to the country aud given to under
stand that the dissemination of such
principles, was n0tin accordance with
American ideas, and was not calculat-
ed to promote the we'll being Of our
people. Now certain we'll under
stood principles govern in society;
the whole is composed Of individual
mem bers; loss Of, or injury to mem
ber, affects injuriously the bodily
Integrity, lowers its vitality, dimin-
fishes its efficiency. Loss of tone 10
the character Of a member of society
1afects ipjuriously the tone Of society
and initiates against its best inter
ests; no man liveth to himself alone,
the interest Of the individual and the
interest Of society are Identical
They cannot be separated. Seeing
then, that good citizens are desira BILE
and that proper influences may be
1depende upon to produce good citi.
S|zens, il becomes matter Of vita
3|concern that the children, the future
sllegislat tors, be surrou ounded with al
atmosphere favorable to the develop
mont Of right ideas, right thoughtl
j and purposes, aycraple TO th,
] growth Of unselish devotion to duty
/ Iobedience TO law, in one word favor
d able to the growth Of love to Coz
land man and count try; al atmospher
j "a which anarchy il ntemperance, il