The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-23
PATRIOTISM THEME
OF 'PARSON' S|MPK|N
Tribute Is Paid to the Char.
acter and Services of
George Washington.

In sermon ON "Thc Religion OF Pa
triotism" at Phillips Congregations
church last evening. the Rev. Peter y
Smpkin paid a tribute to the charactc
and service OF Washington, and cmpha
sized the ideals which are held abidinGl
for Americans in the greatness OF the re
public's first president Mr.. slmpkin sal
In part:
Religion and true patriotism are
vitally related indeed. patriotism is
but the sacrificial form OF the social
expression OF religion.
Ever clearer grows the comprehen-
sion that a nation is but collective
individuallsm. composite personality,
with consciousness sharp or dim In
accordance with the prominence or
decadence OF morality, and with a
call to duty and destiny set by the
Master OF the age.
The more clearly the strength of
religion Is mark Of a peoples life,
the surer will be the wide service
and the lofty achievement registered
by that people. for all true high
patriotism Is that OF service, OF
moral and social evolution.
That heritage which comes TO bless
our generation is rich In two COM
manding things. Foremost Is that OF
lives Ike Washnglon'S, deeply rell-
gious. beautifully sacrlfIcial. and sec
ondly that natural sequel which is
written In the beautiful story Of the
nations gift IN blood. wealth and
service of the many things that have
touched the wide world at a thou
sand places with the loving hand OF
ministry. Gods man was Washing
ton, great I'm many ways, unique In
his fathering OF the imperial democ--
racy of the age. A general brilliant
and Illustrious. a statesman without
craft, great and sagaclous. man
strong, just, courageous. tender. en-
dowed with all the gracious charm
OF kingliness, Washington stands an
abiding ideal for the generations OF
our cltizenry, It's abidingness finds
guaranty In the strength OF that re-
liEious life in which II was builded.
For, after all the greatest element
can was his grip on religion as
pra actIcal force In life, and whether
in his state papers he writes like
prophet Of old the sage counsel that
holds the secret Of permanence or
on his knees in the forest. In bitter
winter, he kneels to pray the Eternal
with the passionate oarnestness Of n
peoples shepherd, he is truly. great
ly religious,
No counsel he gives Is so deeply
earnest a 5 that which bids the citi-
zens OF the new republic remember
that such a popular government as
ours can only abide on the founda-
t!on Of deep religion and high mo-
ra1ity.
Mr.. Simpkin went on TO emphasize n
need for a renaissance Of religion as
dominating force In our national life Il
religion of character moving in purity.
sacrificial service. in the simple demo
racv Of brotherhood, in an enlarseme
OF the mea ming Of our national life
helpful upIift and redemptive power.
In closing his sermon. the preach
said:
II is essential TO remember that il is
personal problem. for each Ameri-
can Is. after all. the state
Lofty periods and beautiful senti
ncnts will be but Towering vines COW
ering crumbing walls, save as into
the very fiber OF all our common citi
zenshlp there he woven the abiding
strength and life OF that which will
answer the simple devotion. the un-
selfish service, the crimson sacrifice,
which are part OF all that is Amer
jca. Providence lras given il TO us
by way of Washington and those
who have followed him in the red
way of lofty duty.