The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1913-01-31
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP

0nr Country to-day is slowly evolving
from vast materialism, hence we are
brought face to face, with great and
grave problems, which must be wisely
met, by well equipped citizenship.
"A girl went into a druggists shop
and asked for five cents worth of glory
divine. The druggist was amazed,
Glory divine? he asked; whom is il
for? It's for mother, said the girl.
My mother spreads it in bad places to
make them sweet. %, | see, said
the druggist She wants chloride of
lime. -
In our national life we need some
Glory divine spread on the tainted
situations, by an honest and wholeheart-
ed citizenship.
In its most commonly applied form
the word citizen means; "A person
native or naturalized. who owes alleg-
lance to a government, and is entitled
to reciprocal protection from it,
When the word Christian is prefxed, a
bigger meaning is added, as citizen
of the Kingdom of Heaven, Christ
ian's obligations and relations to his
country are manifold, his influence, his
opinions, religion, ballot and whole
character are deeply involved Christ
ian Citizenship, in the United States of
America, ought to be most pertinent
significant phrase. For Citizenship to-
| day demands much more than it did
fifty years ago. We are living in a
wonderful age of opportunity-a hstoy
making century. A perfect revolution,
of methods, i'll all phases of our Polit-
zeal, Social, Ethical and Religious life
is taking place. And man, greater
than all the methods, avs, or money
employed to meet the resultant national
conditions, is more responsible for their
proper solution, in his worth as an indi-
vidual. Along the various highways,
of our public life ratings are sagging,
causing injuries to the nations body
namely, graft, child labor, Sabbath des-
secration, immoral pursuits, civic I'M
righteousness, etc Every Christian cti-
zen is armed with hammer and nails,
we plead for their use. One of the
menaces of our Country, at the present
time is the Liquor Traffic, much remains
to be done, we might well consider in
comparison, the attitude, of China, the
the new republic, in her rapid and sue
cesful efforts, in abolishing the opium
habit.
The cause of Christian Citizenship
may be forwarded and developed, in at
least three essential ways. First, In
| formation or education is urgent, Judge
Ben b. Lindsey says, ut is the duty of
the citizen, to devote sufficient of his
| time to study and understanding of
the issues and the leaders. He owes it
to himself and his country to exercise
| judgment, to choose wisely, to act just
| ly, patriotically, if it consists only in the
deposit, of his ballot on election day q"
Second, Agitation will help to create,
an atmosphere, for civic righteousness,
also high toned public opinion, which
is an important national feature, and
will give the needed inspiration for
practical activity.
Third: Regeneration applied to the
life of man, will rebound in great value
in his public and social life. Future
efficient American citizenship then will
be largely dependent upon our conser-
walton of true American ideals and
standards in the unprecedented and
jealous performance of our especial du-
ties for the public good.
|. G.. II.