Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-31

w euHeScdy evening were dtltHHeu ny
a congregation that about taxed the
capacity Of the handsome new edifice,
which was formally dedicated on Sun
day last. The drawing card Last eve
ming was Mayor Sherburn Becker of
Milwaukee, who spoke on 'Practica
Reforms of Today" The evening 8
exercises were presided over by Mayor
Mulberger and the program was as
follows:
1.-The Kingdom of this World is Be-
come the Kingdom Of Our Lord and of
His Christ and He Shall Reign For
ever and Eve" Rev. IL rs.
Solo, "The Golden Pathway
Edward l.. Schempf.
Address, "Practical Reforms of
Today Hon. Mayor She burn NJ. Be-
cker OF Milwaukee.
Piauo and Violin Duet-Miss E.
Goeldner, Mr.. Frank Bramer.
After being introduced by Mayor
Muiberger, the speaker of the even
ing SpOhc do IOiiU"S-
Ladies and Gentlemen 1T gives
me pleasure to be with you on this &c
casion through the invitation so cord
tally extended by your pastor. Just
why l should have been selected, in
the wide range of men indebted in the
professions and activities of WIscon-
60 e
pastor to explain to your satisfaction.
Possibly he may have been influenced
by the though and knowledge, that
men and women are curious, and some
of US, who through the kindness aud
sometimes unkindness of the news
papers, and for the time being in the
white light OF publicity, through
closer Inspection, can crafty that
curiosity. Whatever his purpose may
have been In extending the invita-
ton, | want to say that it affords me
pleasure to be with you and to contri-
butte as much as | can TO the success
of this occasion.
The average man and woman gives
too great concern to the purely secular
affairs of life. Business and politics
absorbs the time and attention of the
men while our women folks, with the
cares of the household and family, the
demands of social obligations, find
time but for fitful interest in move
ments seeking the betterment of con-
dItions in communities.
In adapting ourselves to modern
conditions, to fit the demands upon
our time, we have given way to a new
system. The personal interest and
endeavor that the individual should
give to all matters not directly con-
cerned In his material welfare, are
these days largely delegated Through
legislation passed by our represent
atives in the local government, at
Madison or in Congress, we ask for
remedies which may or may not meet
doctors the care OF our physical be-
ings, to the lawyers those matters
relating to conflicts in property or
personal rights and to the preachers
is delegated the supreme test of pre-
scribing the general process for
humanity's up lift. In the last in
stance, l fear, the delegation is too
often so complete, that as individuals
We forget that we have any connect
ing link of duty in purely personal
sense.
1t is not that we as citizens of the
general average type, are unapprecla-
tive of the activities which produce
results, seeking the betterment of con-
ditions, moral. political or material.
The trouble is that the average man
or woman does not want to be bother,
ed with the details through which ben
eficial results are secured. fhe party
platform, frequently broken and more
often evasively nullified by the willy
politician, is practically the only limit
OF the personal efforts of the maker of
laws. To him has been delegated such
wide scope and power, and so marvel
ously is it exercised under political
Interpretation, that the people have
a right to stand APPALLED, in wonder
ment at the performance of mere IN
struments.
The voters are remotely conscious
that there is some sort of machinery
to make aud enforce laws. and look to
their delegated servants to protect the
best interests of the community and
state. Here too often their interest
ends.
The illustration afforded by polit-
lca1 inactivity on the part of citiznes
generally, is more pertinent1y true
as relates to those moral movements,
great and small, which Leave so much
of an impress upon the life of COM
munities. To a comparatively few
individual sin such community is DEL
egated the frequently obnoxious task
of moral mnetorshlp. These men and
women in the far too common general
opinion prevailing, are the charter
members of crankdom'' and their
efforts are characterized rs the act
ivIties of bigots and zealvts. In the
main, however. communities are toll
Grant of this class of individuals be-
hot