The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-29
Clear-Cut S ermon by
DR.. M acla chlan on
City sGreatPro !
NEED ABLE MEN
ON NEW BOARD
City Democratic Committee Dc.
clares Itself on Side OF Machine,
He Asserts, and It's Slate
Will Win Unless Better
Class of Citizens
Act.

Speaking from the text "Thc chr'g-
tian and His city." Rev. H. u. c.
0Iaciachlan at the Seventh Stree,
Christian Church last night en-
phasized the importance OF selecting
men OF un1ue3tioned honesty ami
ability TO serve on the new Admin
istrative Board. Il believe in party"
he SAID. but when my party tells nc
TO line up and vote for the proverbial
yellow dog for public Office. which
only men of ability ana integrity
should fill beg leave to remember
that l am q Christian before / am a
party man. / believe IN business in
terests and that they should be pro-
tected. but as citizen have no
right to help put men in Office who
VIII be menace to the public veal
because they happen 10 protect and
further M private interests"
Referring TO the action of the City
, Democratic Committee in defeating
thu convention plan. DIR. Maclachlan
said that body had declared itseit on
the side OF the machine politicians.
Every one knows what that means"
he added 1T means that the state
VIII go through. unless the better
class OF citizens who have no axes to
grind wake UP and bring out ticket
OF their own. The time has come for
that"
The Chamber % Commerce. said Or
N; clachlan, was largely responsible
and rightly. he ihough,-for sccur-
ing the Administrative Board. but
that many citizens did not think IL
should be lands off. believing rather
that II should tak'e the lead In bring
? Ing out the proper candidates
Function of the Minister.
J. announcing his text, Dr.. Mac
lschlan caid It is the commission I'M
de. which every minister OF the
Gospel operates. He said;
Two things are In 'tcated In 1.-THE
function OF the minister and an I'M
portant part Of his message. The
function of the minister IS TO declare
what he sees. as the Waterman was
to be ears and eyes for the city. He
is always to be on the watch and
never keep silence.
Our text also throws out signifl-
cant hint concerning the scope q. the
minister's message. The prophet is
TO take no rest and give God no rest
until He make Jerusalem a praise in
tn earth" lis is n civic mission.
The aim of his activities are what
We to-day would call civic betterment
The city Is to be tho subject OF his
warnings and prayers. Here Is not n
merely in getting people to heaven
hut of salvation here and now-the
salvation OF "A city-thc redemption OF
human and earthly society
The hrst duty OF Christian citizen
is patriotism. lie must love his city.
lie must be proud of its history, its
achievements. it's progress He must
be an optimist. believing that its flu
ture is bright with the promise OF
greater things to be. The "knockcr'
or chronic kickers" has no Mace in
the Christian scheme of things. on
the other hand. true patriotism does
no. signify indiscriminate praise
The true patriot is not blind to the
faults o: his city any more than the
father is blind TO the faults of his
children. The spirit OF Christian
citizenship is not that of the fourth
of July orator--all pyrotechnics and
huperlativcs. II holds itself free Ia
criticize and attack wrong and in
Justice whenever found. II keeps its
eyes open to the faults and failures
OF the society with which it Identifies
itself, and refuses TO cry Peace.
Peace" when there is no peace.
Must study Your City.
In the second place the Christian
must take an Intelligent interest in
the social and moral governmental
conditions OF his city. lie should
know his city from the inside. lie
should know where 1t stands in the
matter of birth and death rates He
should know its general health condi.
lions and what is being done to remedy
them. He should keep himself IN
formed to some extent at least on
such matters as the housing of the
poor In congested areas, the admins.
tration OF the city charities: the ratio
of crime to populations: the enforce
ment of law by the parties responsible
therefor. Especially lie should keen
I'm touch with the legislative and adj
ministrative machinery OF his city SO
that he may detect any attempt on tn,
part of designing politicians to ad-
vance themselves to the detriment n,
the public interest. He should read
the reports OF Council meetings and
know how his Alderman and Council.
man vote on all important public Is.
sues.
Nor Is 1t merely enough that we
should know these things: we must gel
busy about them. We must exercise
as religious duty the right of suf-
frage. We must attend primary cleo
lions as religiously-and | use the wor,
with Its weight In it-as we attend
prayer meeting, and cast our votes as
prayerfully as we read our Bibles I
cannot understand the makeup of the
man-and there are hundreds such
who never casts ballot and vet
thinks he has the right to COMPLAIN
of conditions when they don't suit him
whereas the truth is that he has no
moro right to complain than the farm
er has the right to complain of n
(Continued on Sixth Pace.l