Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-30
Philathea Glass Organized at Third Baptist Church-Interesting Sermon
 at Congregational Church-PersonaIs

Rev. c. H. RickettS delivered an in teresting sermon in the Congregational church Sunday morning, his subject being Inevitable Publicity. The text was taken from Matt. 5: IA, City | That is Set on a Hill Cannot Be Hid. Mir. Ricketts said in part: ~
 Its very situation makes it's publicity inevitable; the hilltop city cannot help therein ought to rejoice that it can be seen. If the people of any city are ashamed to have their city seen, or if they squirm when the limelight of publicity is thrown upon them, it is be- cause that city sustains such a shady character and has been guilty of such deeds of darkness that it will not bear the light. Like Tammany Hall during the Tweed regime, that fought almost to the death any attempt to reveal it's record to the public. There are some things that you cannot hide any more than you can hide the moral law. Crime and corruption may paint a city blacker than midnight, and you cannot hide it. There it stands on the emi- hence of publicity, the exposure of all eyes, the target for all missiles, the ob- Ject of praise or censure. The light of God shines this hilltop city and 1t cannot escape it. Under this light of God your hilltop city will be shown to have made it's ascent up to heaven or to have made it's bed in hell-it will be the one or the other.
 Many has been the city in which Gods blessed light has been the reveal CT of crime and corruption, and sooner or later it is bound to come, for a "cfty that is set on a hill cannot be hid.' Like an open scroll, it will one day be laid bare and all eyes will see it's whiteness and its blackness, it's beauty and it's ugliness. But it is also to be noted that the same light that discloses the abode of vermin also brings out the infinite beauty of the rose; it delights rus with it's marvellous penciling; it pleases us with a symphony of hues in the landscapes; it thrills us with visions of palaces and landscapes more beautt- ful than man ever attempted. If 1t un- covers the cesspools and plague spots of our cities, it shows us towns and mansions, temples and palaces, mu- seums and gardens for under it's kind ly benediction there is nothing cover ed that shall not be revealed and noth- ing hid that shall not be known"
 One of the bright sides of human history has been the pride men have had in the city of their birth and resi- dence. Their enthusiasm has done much to make their native city cele- brated. There is no question that Florence owes much to the enconjums piled upon it by the Brownings In the middle ages, when Florence cut such figure in the commercial world it was her citizens greatest pride to say: T am a F1orentine." Her sailors used to wear the capital letter F on their garments, and in some cases branded on their bodies. Is it strange that this Italian city should have forged it's way into the front rank of the worlds commercial centers when it's children were so infatuated with its greatness?
 Can there be any question that Venice has become more renowned be- cause John Ruskin wrote his famous work, Stones of Venice in her praise? I might thus go on indefinitely to show how enthusiastic men and women have become the world over in the city of their birth and that their enthusiasm has added something to the immortali- ty- of the city.
 But a word ought to be said explain ing the reason for this. We cannot call 1t blind praise; some of it at least must have foundation in fact. Let it be ad- mltted that 8 city is sometimes praised or censured ignorant1y and unintelIi- gently, but for the most part there must be something in the civic life it. self that calls forth both praise and censure I think that it will be readily admitted that it is just possible for municipalities to go wrong as it is for individuals, and that municipalities as; well as individuals may conduct them SelVes in such a manner as to forfeit the respect of all decent citizens. It is possible that city as well as an indi- vIdual may become the laughing stock of whole state. Whether a city is worthy of praise or censure depends on how it shows up when the light is turned on. You can't hide a city. any way. and especially one that it set on hill If when the light is turned on It shows a set of officials who are there because there is something to be got ten out of it, if it shows up some betty little mind who is waiting for someone to crown him. one of those narrow visioned men who go on the rule or ruin policy, if that city is simply hot