The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-07-23

d
e4l4&1' honor and the
progress of his
truth In the earth are so affected by
human governments that he IL not only
a weak citizen but a weak Christian
who, making one In a republic. allows
himself TO become Indifferent to its
administration.
There have been those who have be
lieved this nation 10 be a peculiar IA.
vorite OF God. They have felt that
he led thither those who laid It's foun.
dalton upon Plymouth Rock That
he nerved the hearts OF their success
ors who cemented its masonry with
the blood OF Bunker Hin and York.
town. They have felt. TO change the
hgure, that these men sowed good
seed In this field. but while men slept.
while we have all been engrossed In
our schemes for wealth. an enemy
hath sowed tares. The situation to
day Is not the harvest our forefathers
would have wished. II Ia not the legit.
innate outcome OF the Declaration OF
Independence
!. One OF our political tares 10 the
peculiar tide OF immigration to our
shores, the character OF which has
changed radically within a few years
Our first settlers had an Unborn spirit
OF freedom and a past history OF con
quest and success. and their immedi-
ate successors. though sometimes in.
In nfh ~ In
dred blood. and came from lands
where the spirit OF liberty and the po-
litical duties OF the individual have
been cherished. They have thus been
easily assimilated and have helped to
build up the prosperity OF the country.
present immigrants. many OF whom
have been downtrodden politically.
and have no ideal of citizenship. We
should rejoice, indeed. ut an oppor
tunity TO be a blessing to them. but
we should not swallow more OF them
than we are able to digest
u. Another OF these "tsres" 10 the
liquor trsff'e, lying as IL does at the
center OF all political and social mis-
chief. and paralyzing energies In
every direction. The responsibility
OF Christian citizens lies In their will
ingness to permit II TO exist, and worse
still TO permit II to exist for "A con
alteration! II Ia impossible to de
stroy the appetite. but II is not i'm
possible to deny the opportunity to
crafty the appetite by law. Has not
the time come for Christians who
know the meaning OF the Declaration
OF Independence. 10 say nothing OF
the Decalogue. 10 break the shackles
which bind them to a social custom,
TO a blind prejudice. OF even to a po-
litical party, In order TO serve their
homes. their God and their native
land In driving this rum demon from
our shores!
~. Another Of these "tares" 10 the
secularixation Of the Sabbath day
a growing tendency to change that
day from q holy day into holiday. TO
convert II from a day Of rest into a
day Of labor. to neglect the public
worship OF God. the sacred observance
of his laws for the sake Of social
pleasures and business gains.
Who Is responsible for these things
Could secular enterprises prosper on
the Lords day II Christians frowned
upon themi And has not God con
troversy with US for these things
VIII he not avenge himself on such a
nation as this? How can we have re-
iigion without worship? And how can
we have worship without Sabbath
What can we do about these things?
Cd We can throw the weight Of our
example on the right side. We can
certainly do this so far IA the keep
ing OF the Sabbath IL concerned, and
80 far as the liquor traffic is con
cerned. God would have saved Sodom
had there been ten righteous men In
that place.
(2) We may throw a ballot on the
right side. As Joseph Cook once said:
"The managing politicians care for
nothing but arithmetic and. therefore.
one Of our supreme duties 10 to stand
up. and stand together. and be count
ed" The powers that be are ordained
Of God, and as Gods servants we are
10 see that his will. and not the will OF
Satan, IL carried out In the selection
of them
(S There Is a third thing we can
do, and that 10 pray. The efectual
fervent prayer Of a righteous man
availsth much. Remember Abra-
hams intsrcession for Sodom and Ne
hemiah's for jerusalem. But alas. how
little DO We pray for these thingsl
Alas for our patriotism when We are
bssisging the throne Of gracel