Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-05
PASTOR STIMSON.
Waterville Congregational Church, on
"Civic Loyalty or Civic Apathy


Civic Loyalty or Civic Apathy"
Rev. c. F. Stimson, WatervilIe,
spoke on Civic Loyalty or Civic Apa-
thy at the Congregations church,
Sunday morning. The sermon as
whole was a plea for civic patriotism,
expressing itself in effective organiza-
ton, and aiming to aetualize the
ideals and promises embodied in po-
litical platforms and social programs
through loyalty and labor on the part
of the best citizens to the city re-
garded as an organism, having a real
life and individuality of it's own. He
contrasted the two portrayals of the
Holy City Of Jerusalem in Psalms and
in the lamentations of jeremiah. In
the one case the City of God is eele-
brated for its happiness, prosperity
and welfare, rejoicing ip the civic
loyalty of those natural defenders who
found all their springs in her. and set
Jerusalem above their chief joy; In
the other case Jerusalem ,personified,
sits in shame and poverty and neglect,
pittful spectacle, pleading for the
commiseration of aliens and passers-
by-"Jerusalem is among them as an
unclean thing"
The personincation and idealizing of
cities is natural and universal No
more truly were Jerusalem, Athens.
Rome among ancient cities, loved and
served as if they had a spirit and life
of an exalted and noble order than in
modern times ere Berlin, Paris, Biz
mingham, London, Chicago, New York
and Boston. Each city has an indiv-s
ri of &c
own. shaped from indigenous forces,
and appealing to it's citizens for 10y
ally and service The fate of cities
viii increasingly sde termine theefatepof
nations. The cities must be saved to
save the nation. Rural life and prob
lens are growing close-linked with
city problems Good roads, turnpikes. 4
electric and steam. with telephones
and facile communication of all kinds,
are knitting all life together in a
unity. The time has come when moral
and social ideals and projects of hu-
man betterment are making the old
hard and fast political allegiances Inn
possible Men must be free to divide
according to their allegiance TO prin-
ciples and platforms and leaders.
Nothing is more highly important than
ing of a band of men and women in
every community who viii find the
best expression of their religion 10 be
the service of the city, as it stands to
them for the collective good, and see
in it's welfare larger good than their
private good fortune or personal adj
Vancement can offer.
Mr.. Stimson insisted that the shock
n.
platform and the Democratic perfor-
nance, in State county and city.
should be viewed in the light of the
widespread apathy Of men of both po-
litical parties towards the glaring
gaps between campaign promises
which stand for ideals and good nten-
tons, and actual administrative con-
duct where men have fallen into the
habit of submitting to broken pledges
and dereliotion to oaths of office, on
the accepted ground that the ideals
and promises of the platforms are i'm
possible of realization. He made a
strong appeal for the recognition of
the new politics. which is bound to
insist upon closer union of platform
and performances; and as one who vot-
ed for the present Governor upon his
PLATFORM and who needed closely the
campaign speeches of the Governor
and other party leaders, and who ac-
cepted the inaugural address as hon
est and sincere. in its firm stand for
the platform, he deplored its complete
population in the administration and
present utterances of the Governor
and other representatives of the party
in power.
But the main effort of the sermon
was directed to arouse the Christian
men and all good citizens, whether
churchmen or not from their laziness.
neglect, and practical inefficiency. He
attributed the defeat OF the new char
ter last October TO the lack of gin
ger and gumption on the part of
good citizens who proved no good
He condemned most severely the BUSH
ness men who put dollars before duty.
the men Of high family and culture
who call politics dirty" and live
themselves in 4 drY-rot of selfish ease,
the superior people who refuse to get
down into the hard work of making
their pretensiens good, the mock piety
and false religion which shirks the la
bors by which alone cities may be
saved and kept wholesome
He closed with "a ringing plea for a
City Club" for Waterville, where
lovers Of the city irrespective of race
or religious affiliation. might meet to
study the life and needs OF the city.
and make plans for its Improvement
in Il purely disinterested way He cit
ed instances eff such Clubs in other
cities where Romanists and Profess
30. ts.pt. ex.s-
thinkers, heartily and happily unite to
work out the problems of cityWeifare
united by the bond of common iove
and loyalty to their city He hoped
the hour might come when Waterxitle
II. IL.