The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-22
Continued from First Page)

your attention TO the present relation
OF each of the learned professions 10
politics and government. It seems TO
ne that such a subject may well have
interest for those who have finished an
academic career and are looking about
20 select a profession for themselves.
The first profession is that OF the
ministry. Time was I'm New England
and In every other part of the country
under the influence of its traditions
when the minister Of the Congrega-
1ionaI Church, IN addition to that of his
sacred office, exercised most power
fuI influence which was OF Distinctly
political character.
sUis views on the issues OF the day
were considered Of the greatest weight
In the community in which ne llFtu'
and he ranked everyone as its first citi-
zen. This was in the days when New
England might almost be called a the-
OCraCy;' when II was deemed wise ana
POLITICALLY proper to regulate Nv law,
to the minutest detail, the manner OF
life OF men, and as these laws were un-
derstOOd to be framed II accord win
moral and religious requirements tle
minister of the community was the
highest authority as TO what the law
should be and how L ought TO be en-
forced.
Great Changes Here.
'Great changes have come over our
methods of life since that day Then
the ministry, because O. the rewards In
the way of influence, power. and promi-
nence. attracted the ablest of educated
minds, and the ability and force o.
character were where power and in
nuencs resided. But the spread Of edu-
cation and independent thinking, the
vide diffusion of knowledge and news
nv the press, the enormous materla
CieVelopement Of the country, the Vas'
increase in wealth, the increase in re-
wards and influence Of other Vocauonsr
the disappearance Of the simple Vlldse
life. have all contributed TO change radt
Caly the position and influence OF the
ministry in the community
To-day il is not true that that pro
dession attracts the ablest young men
and this, l think, is distinct loss e
our society. for it is of the utmost i'm
portance that the profession whose
peculiar duty II is TO maintain mgr
moral standards and to arouse tn
best that there Is In man, 20 sur mn
10 higher aspirations, should have th'
genius and brillianCy with which sue
Cessfully to carry out this function.
"Cf course, the profession Of minis
fry is supposed to have to do Target,
with the kingdom of the next WORE
10 Their than with this, and many PEG
pie expect 70 find in the TepreSen Ia
lives Of the profession only anOthe
WoTldliness and no thought OF this
Is NarrOwest View.
This, Of course. is the narrowes
view of the profession Whatever tn
next world. we are certainly unde
the highest obligation to make tn
best Of this, and the ministers shout
he the chief instruments in making
this world morally and religiousl
better. Il is utterly impossible I
separate politics from the lives OF In
community, and there cannot be gen
eral personal and social business NOR
alitv and political immortality at IN
same time. The latter VIII Ultimatel
debauch the whole community
During the admins ton OF M
Roosevelt and under the influence O
certain revelations Of business I'm
morality, the conscience Of the Who'll
country was shocked ana then nerve
10 the point Of demanding that a pet
ter order of affairs be introduced.
this movement the ministers or IN
various churches have recognized IN
call upon them TO assist, and the
have been heard the country over ]
accents much more effective than eve
before in half a century.
"They have not all always been dis
Greet They have sometimes attempt
ed 10 make the moral reforms by "a
wider than practical experience WOul
justify. Indeed, the tendency OF SON
ministers in taking part IN poItlI
and seeking governmental reform
20 demand too close q realization
their Ideals. and an unWilllngness
Tor decided progress toward other
This is a limitation upon their usefu
ness.
More Closely IN Touch
sTn two ways the minister is becon
ing more closely in touch with polite
and governmental affairs In the FIR
place, the modern tendency Of govern
1nent IS paternaL Individualism is n
dead, but the laissez faire school do
not have its earnest and consistent
FaSid adherents now as II did years az
We all recognize. l think, or at lea
most Of US do. that there Is certa
aid, there is certain protection that q
Government f. In duty bound, actin
for all the people, 20 extend 70 sma
Or number Of the people whose cirCuT
stances and condition forbid their loo
ing out for themselves. Thus in L
enforcement Of health regulations,
the passage or tenement Laws. child
bOr laws. establishment Of Orph;
sCvlumS and places or refuge for wal
end fl many other ways the wO
or the ministers III home missions brtn
him in contact with necessity Tor Go
eminent action, and he is heard, a.
IS entitled 10 be heard, upon the pOhcl
OF the Government in these regards
80. too, in the matter Of foreign nj
EiOns. The greatest agency today
keeping us advised of the cOuditio
among Oriental races, who. however {
Their traditions and their CivilizatiC
are now tending toward Occident
ideals, IS the establishment Of fOrei
missions as the OutpOsts OF the advau
guard Of Christian civilization.
Duty Of Missions
These missions have the duty Of 70
resenting the ideal Of western Christi
progress. and through them such pr
ress IS to be commended 10 the rae
whom il is hoped we may induce 20 Z
Cept that same civilization The lea
CTS Of these missionary branches Of [
churches are now becoming some Of q
most learned statesmen in respect
cur proper Oriental policies. and III
are 20 be rcckOned with by the III
more Immediately charged with the
EIOusibiiity of initiating and car-yi
on such policies.
THE next profession Is that Of
teacher OF course the greater uumI
OF teachers are engaged in primary d
secondary instruction and in industI
or vocational work. Their relation
politics and Government Is OF the
most importance. though indirect
IS. and ought 30 be, their highest d
10 iuStiU in the minds Of the yoI
girls and boys the patriotism and ],
OF country. because the boy IS father
the man and the patriotism or the
ircme youth Of the country may Y
determine that Of the grown men. 7
effect Of an intense patriotism, VIII
thrills through the nerves Of the BOYS
The country. is illustrated in the
Hiense strength which Japan derl