Putnam patriot., 1910-11-18

competition or have the necessity of compromise thrust upon her She must stand behind all parties and movements that seek the public well being; she must be the teacher of the teachers, the mother and nurse of lead. CTS. The function Of the Church fs the ] medication and defence of the great principles which involve all righteous ness If you get men righteous in Je- sus interpretation of it they will nut righteousness into all life.
 But wherever q Church has the prop CT equipment and the means, through clubs and guilds, and the employment oi expert instructors, she can discuss these themes and teach the people; ] thus she will develop correct thinking III the community and stifien public l opinion. The pulpit surely has right i In this field. We must ieaiously guard the liberty of ntterance secured for us by the New England fathers. But We must equally guard against the temptation to allow this liberty to descend into license. Indiscriminate attack and abuse on the part of the l pulpit Is one of the great evils of the time and constitutes libel on Chris l uanity greater than any uttered by its enemies. We are fearlessly and calm ly 10 treat civil evils, dangers and needs from the point of view of funda- mental Christian principles and ideals: on our right 10 do that we must insist l 1t is evident that public opinion needs informing and directing; this need grows more pressing each year because of the increasing immigration i and the changed character of immigra- Ina come to Us are eager 10 learn what l Amerieanism means That they may be i fftted for citizenship. Three avenues l of approach are open. the Public School, the Press, the Pulpit. these three must unite on a program and act together it the best results are to be secured.
 When you come to the individual Christian man, the representative and exponent of ali that the Church stands for, you strike quite different prepo- sition. AL this point strong words need 10 be spoken. l hold that the fault for the conditions We deplore Is largely chargeable to Christian men who fail 10 claim their opportunity an responsibility. We cannot divorce the missionary motive from any part of life. We are to go into all the world and leach all things that our Lord hath commanded.
 l One cannot mistake the divine meth- cd for getting things done in the world; through leaders who inform and guide the people. IL is doubtful ] if the utterance of the multitude, popular cry, is ever entirely spontane- ous; is or not wisely worked up; some one has apersuaded the multitude 1 This may be a true use of the divine method: il may be gross persersion of it. Witness the history of political manipulation in this country. Me are often told what the people want. Does any one suppose that the popular ] vote is ever the absolutely unsuggest- ed, unaided expression of the popular will? Most Of Us are hereditary parti sans to begin with: we join our fathers party, to that end he is our leader. l The familiar family newspaper helps to shape our opinions. During a cam- 1 paign the press and the speilbinders 1 work up sentiment; the personal infiu- l ence of leaders and candidates helps tn l determining choices and action, to say nothing of less honorable means to l which some belated politicians still 1 give their assent. This is perversion, 1 but 1t hints at the method; l do not hesitate 10 say that il is the divine method for getting things done in the world: through leaders who "persuade the multitude" and guide the people. l Jesus gave his sanction 10 this method when he "had compassion on the niui- titude because they were as sheep not having a shepherd and denounced the rulers as s.blind leaders Of the | blind"
 1 knayes and selfish men have always taken advantage of this method; good men have not used il as they ought. 1 There has been a fatal facility in leav- | ing our blooms to blush unseen in des- ert places. We are called to be lead CTS, to persuade, inform direct the peo- ple: it is our business 10 induce men 10 ask for Jesus and destroy Barabbas everywhere; the responsibility cannot be evaded or shifted. Such persuasion is the primary meaning of disciple. shin when regarded not AS personal relation but as declaration or taith and fl revelation of life. The Christian citizen because of his conservation, his creed, his conception of the world as ] the Kingdom of God wherein o~eitelh I righteousness, his clear perception ol truth, of justice, of brotherlIness, oi right relations in life. Is an ordained { leader of men If he does not busy himself with the solution ol civic pro- blems and the adjustment oi civic con ditions he is deaf 10 his high calling and false 10 his trust.
 Practically this means: join elvie ! Federation. or organize one then direct ii along the highest ethical lines Questions that affect righteousness are involved. The question Of the rem os- al of garbage is a moral question, 50 Is the question of playgrounds, the 4aes- 1 tion of decent housing for the poor,
 and inc question of proper returns 70 ! The community from pubic utiiisles corporations; who is 10 lead III snc
 matters if not the Christian ciiizeh Then lei him labor the creation o' q civic party divorced from state anu nation I,politlcs, let him secure tenl.
 nsranee legislation that is not dictated hv the Iiauor interests and the stfiea
 enforcement of the excise jaws
 The field is wide, 1t is white. hea
 arc groping for light, thinking, discus sing ali these big problems, unos. a.i
 inc divine leayen Is wofAins.
 do not perceive that this hhtesa anu al
 anestioning is in the interest oi ane
 f,ngdoIn of God. and take a Aaho, we
 shall lose our opportunity
 Brotherhood Luneheoa
 As o'clock l5o men took seats IA ,ah,es in ne gymnasium and pafioos