Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-18

es of the middle ages 10 iafict bodily
punishment for ecclesiastical one
and accounts for the atrocities OF the
inqubsitlon.
And equally, since Gods business
with human AFFAIRS Is unlimited, and
religion Is ire expression OF divine
authority. the church has some cight
superior 10 and over the state. No
clash OF authority or confusion or
nature here. but In the economy OF
divine workmanship. one the superior
OF the other bv virtue of IFS divine
affiliarion.
The Church's Commission.
The practical iesue Is concerning
this larger prerogative, what is II.
and how great is its sweep? We must
ever bear in mind the separateness
of the church from the state and the
spiritual commission of religion. She
is the Ugh; of the world and the wit
ness TO the truth, her charter and
commission are found in the inspired
constitution OF Gods word and her
sphere limited to It's commands and
p-ecepts. She stands, therefore, for
God and the things of God as pre-
scented 10 the world in Holy writ,
her authority and right. therefore, be-
fore the state is limited to spiritual
affairs committed to her charge in
scripture With Democracy. Repubh-
canism, or Monarchy she has nothing
TO do, but with God and Truth she
stands solemnly charged. Nor is the
weapon of her warfare caTnal. II Is
the sword of the spirit nevertheless.
n two.edged sword. she Is limited
in the exercises Of this prerogative
TO humble appeal when the state is
dt relict. or to humble protest when
the commonwe alth has traDsgressed.
And again this right OF petition ana
protest Is confined 10 those situations
which are extraordinary.
Church Leads, state Follows.
We are thus led TO ask what con-
stitutes an extraordinary occasion,
Iustlfying the Church of God in APP
p, airing before the state, either in pc
tition or protest.? To respond intelli-
gently here. We must recognize the
exlstance OF a third party. An arr
line separates the Commonwealth OF
Virginia from that of North Carolina.
unses n. but not unreal. A kingdom.
the metes and bounds OF which II
may be as hard to deliniate' as the
color lines In the rainbow. but n
kingdom, nevertheless, stands be-
tween religion and politics. 1t is the
sphere of morals. The church is the
architect. the state the artificer OF this
kingdom The church must set the
staIdasds OF right and wrong, the
state must conform to the ethics OF
conduct
The personnel OF this kingdom is
the manhood of the commonwealth.
What II Is neither becoming nor op-
perfume for .ths church as a church TO
do. the membership OF the church in
their individual capacity as citizens
of this kingdom OF morals have the
privilege and responsibility Of per-
forming. The ch,Xch makes men.
Men make the State. When. however,
the membership of the church and
the citizens of the state fail in the
exercise Of this mediatorial right;
and. there by the truth of God Is OBJ
scured and the laws of God ignored.
there is p,e cipitated an extraordinary
situation and the church is justified IN.
either appt al or protest, responsible
to meet the emergency that man has
failed to master.
Status Of Anti Saloon League.
Happy the state and happy the
church when its manhood becomes so
conscious OF this Inediatorial resron.
sibility that Il forms end fosters an
organized effort to DO the things that
ought to be done. and 20 relieve the
church OF the embarrassment of the
initiative and the Commonwealth OF
ecclt stsstical interference This is
the status of sn legitimate reform
aszociat'ons. Nsitber ecclesiastical
aCc political. untrammelied by the
limitations Of either. a natural arbiter
Of each. and a party TO the interest
OF both the reform association that
forms no ecclesiastical nor pohticai
affiliations has a province and YIELDS
a power most desirable to both church
end state. Such is the position OF the
Sabbatic Union. the Anti-Saloon
League and many others that might
be mentioned.
Face the great issues OF the twen-
tieth century a. men. You are build
ing for eternity. IL the throes OF
struggle the sasic principles Of mod
ern civilization had their birth. The
, heroes Of memory forged their way
TO the corridors Of lame through IRE
and sword often solitary and alone.
The triumph Of righteousness Is IN
eyi;sble as the fight OF years. The
day will dawn when man shall be
manly, quit themselves Ike msn ana
be strong Then shall the church OF
ths living Co.. rejoice in he rov1l