Evening journal., 1910-06-30
Christian EndeaVor
News

Christian Endesvor Lesson for July 3, |
1910; "christian Citizenship" Ps,
t24,i-si Rev. 2fif.3. (conseora-
ton Msstina).
This is very broad and deep topic,
indeed it is a topic of world-import
ance, for it touches every nation from
its greatest to its lowest citizen. In
fact, there is no person exempt from
this subject of christian Citizen
ship No man, woman or child rs
free from the question. Am ] al
Christian Citizen? Am ! performing
my political duties as Christian
citizen should 20 and "Do ever up
hold the honor Of my country as
Christian Citizen should? p These
are, or ought TO be, live questions and
important ones in the mind Of each
and every. citizen, no matter who he
or she may be--whether a magistrate
or a plain citizen, and no matter
where he or she may be, whether AT
home or abroad.
Having once asked these questions,
we must have some standard set hv
means Of which we may Judge whether
or not we have measured up 10 our
/ requirements; we must have some
/ ideal toward which we may work; for
/ IL Is an absolute necessity for man
10 have an ever-distant standard or
/ ideal which he may strive TO realize,
q higher plane of character, to reach
which he eXpends his every effort.
citizen Is a person who, either
by birth or by naturalization. has Sc
cured the rights, duties and privileges
which a nation, country. town or city
provides for It's inhabitants Then
Christian citizen, we may say, is one
who faithfully performs his duties
and who soberly and with discretion
exercises his rights and privileges
Let us examine few Of the duties
of American citizenship. II is the
first and foremost dutyAof a citizen
TO obey the law, no matter how un-
Just and ,unwise IL may be; as long
as that statute remains a law, IL is his
duty 60 obey, and every Christian
citizen will.
The next duty Of every citizen who
is able to do so. is to vote. To vote
properly. the citizen should know as
much as possible concerning every
candidate for Office. and know the
opinions and intentions of the party
for which he stands. The citizen
should pick out the man whom he
thinks best fit and able 10 perform the
/ business Of the office. The voter
should cast his ballot independent Of
every other voter, and should not tell
for whom he voted. The Christian
citizen belongs to the party Of indc-
pendent voters. which is the terror OF
2 political bosses and other men who are
fsa r,,Iftfraa 10 male
The Christian citizen runs for office
with no nercenary motive, but with
a sincere desire TO honestly serve the
State. His faith in his Maker keeps
him from graft and he discharges his
duties honestly and to the best Of his
ability An as office-holder he does
not fear to expose crime OF any kind,
and because he is not afraid Of failing
20 be reelected because of exposing
crime, he brings 10 light all the sees Of
graft, injustice. bribery. and the men
who are not Fl TO hold Office, and thus
helps 10 preserve our Union in purity
and honor He who does not, is not
a Christian citizen.
On such measures as "The SUNDAY
Baseball Bill" "The Opening Of
Stores and Theatres on Sunday" the
Christian citizen will always vote for
the right and never has any Houolc
10 ascertain which is the right.
No man can indulge in liquors and
be a Christian citizen. Drink dulls
a mans mind. snakes his heart callous,
and blinds his judgment so that he
cannot choose Alright, and inevitably
he votes wrong, and often sells his
birthright and heritage-the priceless
franchise of the American citizen. II
is, therefore, plainly the duty Of every
Christian citizen 20 vote and 10 vote
q against the saloon and by thus re-
moving temptation, aid in enlarg-
ing the number Of Christian citizens
Liberty is not license, and freedom
is not doing exactly as you please.
Respect for the rights Of others is
necessary, and limits TO freedom must
be set up. The Christian citizen
sharply defines the limits of his free
dom, and stays within them, and he
also respects the opinions and
thoughts Of others.
But how many can measure up to
this standard. and how many do not
even try to do so. II is plainly the
duty Of those who arc striving 10 be
! Christian citizens 10 convert and re-
form those who are striving to be
= Christian citizens TO convert and re-
form those who are not, and the
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