The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-01-08
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. CORTLAND MYERS.
Theme: Uncle Sans Mark on the
World.

ton Hall of the Bedford Branch OF
the Y. M. c. A. DR.. Myers theme
also, was popular, being: Uncle
Sans Mark on the World" He said
among other things:
When l was asked to come here
and tell you something of my recent
tour around the world 1t seemed ar
impossibility, there was so much tc
be said. Where shall a man begin OF
end? Well, we crossed this CONT
nent, which is in itself enough fol
one tour for any man; we visited the
Hawaiian Islands, touched at the
Philippines, saw China, Japan, the
Malay Islands, Burmah, India, Cey'
lon; then through the Red Sea, past
Arabia, to Egypt, to Palestine for the
second time, across the Mediter'
ranean, through Europe and Great
Britain and finally home to America
Gods own country
The one thing that we noticed
everywhere in the world was thai
there has been tremendous amount
of progress, and that the progress OF
civilization has been greater in the
last ten years than in the hundred
years previous; and that the greatest
element in this worldwide progress
is the influence of American institu'
lions and ideas. The eyes Of the
whole world are turned to the Amer
lean Republic, the worlds purest and
greatest democracy. The civilized
nations of the earth are interested in
the things we have here, and they are
saying: "We must have the same
things as America; we must know
the principles Of the American democ'
racy, and we must apply them to oul
own governments.
In the past few years Japan has
adopted and applied the principles
of democratic government, and China
has awakened and is demanding the
institution of democracy, and God
only knows what is going to take
place there. The Empress of China is
dead, and thank God she is, for
though she was remarkable woman
worthy to be ranked with Catharine
of Russia or Queen Elizabeth of Eng
land in many respects, her policies
have been dealing death blows to
any chances for advancement which
China may have had in the past. We
do not know yet what the outcome
will be, but, in the province Of God
we believe that mighty and marvellous
things are soon to happen in that vast
and ancient empire, and especially in
the next decade. Already the un.
heard of and we'll nigh inconceivable
thing has happened. AS the result OF
what has transpired, the Chinese peo-
pie are demanding a constitution
and they will get it sooner or later
1t is the same in India. Lord Mimic
the Governor-General of that colony
is writing back to England that its
250,000,0tG natives are demanding
representation and a greater share in
the government of their land, and al
the English newspapers and period
icals are talking about the possibility
of a mutiny on the part of the Indian
native army of 100000 men. which
will make Lucknow and the Sepoy
rebellion look like child's play. The
watchword Of the people Is now
India for the Indians, with repre-.
sentative and constitutional govern.
ment!" Persia has caught the spirit
of the Western World and clamors
for similar rights. The Turks, the
Young Turks and all the Turks are
saying: 1--WE will have constitutional
government" and the Sultan know:
that they are going to have it, II
spite Of the fact that his promises are
rot believed and his efforts to put Il
off as long as possible.
Now the greatest, the most potent
influence in all this worldwide agi
tation for liberty and human rights
is the American influence of which
have spoken. When we were com
ing through the Mediterranean, WE
met one of those ignorant fellows or
our ship who know it all" and are
constantly displaying their ignorance;
and he said to me: Have you seer
that picture back of you on the wall
Well" he continued, that is tine
greatest and finest clubhouse in The
world" His mother told him to jus
keep still, but he went on talkiLs
about it, showing his ignorance, til
his mother informed him that it wa!
a picture Of the home of the Presi
dent of the United States; then I hat
my turn and I said to them: YES
that's right! That's the biggest club
house in the world; that's the ho,nt
Of the Big Stick" That ''big stick
has had wholesome influence over
the entire civilized world!
My friends, the one great marx
that Uncle Sam has put on this work
and all around the planet is the prin
ciple Of individual responsibility
This is the mark of civilization, and i
is the mark, especially, Of Christian
civilization. The mark of heathenisn
is the clan, the tribe, the class, ths
family, the bunch; it puts lot o
heads together, and when it has then
oil r
much anyway; but the mark OF civil
ization is the Individual man, hi!
rights and his responsibilities. II
the citizens of this country Of ours
Uncle Sam says: you are citizen
you have throne, climb up on it;
your have a scepter, WELD it; 20;
have an individual responsibility, US;
it," That is the glory of Christian
civilization; that lies at the centre O.
It, and it reaches to the very core O
the religious life Of the citizen; tina
is the fountain-head out of which al
the streams of his life as either
must flow; 1t is principle, more
over, which comes to US directly from
the teachings of Jesus Christ, and {
mans personal relation to Jesu!
Christ is what brings him into RICH
relation to God. This is the heart O.
the Gospel, and it is the secret of the
Christian civilizations of the world
Jesus said, "IfJa man will do His will
he shall know of the doctrine" i
you want to take the right path, yol
will not be long in learning what the
right path is. Mans condition does
not depend on the question of man!
ignorance. because every one knows
many times as much and better than
he puts into practice.
1t Is a question, rather, of the
mans will. Now, follow me: Next
to the omnipotence of God Is the
will of man; the sovereign will of
man is the mtghtiest force In human
life; it Is the absolutely Fundamental
power in personality. the executive OF
the individual life. Every man is a
small army of faculties, but the will
is the commander, the pilot that runs
the ship. who can bring 1t safely
through the stress of weather and
wave tc its destined harbor. The will
Is the king on the throne of the soul!
We are not led into right relations tic
God in our religious life through the
feelings Or the intellect; it is not
what man knows, or what he feels
h,,t hot HN 70 Lo !