The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-23

their wealth from the manufacture
and sale Of lntoXlcantS. And the tide
Of the times is still setting strongly in
the direction OF dissociatinE the
church from all that smacks of social
or civic or economic i'll. Thus. some
churches viii not permit men 10 re
main in their membership who own
properties use for immoral purposes. |
and the day i not far distant when
a Christian will be publicly d~lshonor-
ed. il he is allied with corporations
which do injustice 10 their employees
or which have corrupt dealings with
public officials. Even membership
in A political party which * proved
guilty IF criminal alliances Will one
day be Impossible to the Christian
We serve our apprenticeship To
heaven while on earth. And the more
heavenly we max our earthly sur
~roundingS the more worthy we are Of
citizenship in the heaven beyond the
@graye-
| Something is hacking in the roll
ShouS life of every person who II not
making some definite contribution To
| the well-being OF his own neishbor-
hood.
I~sndeavorer have been particularly
efficient in good citizenship because
they have the zeal Of youth. greater
leisure than older persons. and free
uottA 80
also are trained III organization. 1t Is
easier for them to canvass a Commu-
nifty in behalf Of a righteous cause
than for any other organization.
Every society should have a Christian
citizenship committee, with some def
mite, tangible, neighborhood work, no
matter how humble, upon its pro-
gramfne.
An elementary task in behalf OF
good government is to get out the
voters on election day. regardless Of
how they vote. Unfortunately, it is
generally true that the persons who
need to be reminded and melted to
fulfill their sovereign duty of casting
a ballot are those commonly called
good CtitiZenS.'
The Adult Bible Glasses are circu-
iating and singing a "Noter's Vow.
that is fraught with large possible
ties for good citizenship. 1t reads as
follows:
LAS the people look forward to an
other election. solemnly make to my
self. to my state, and to my COun-
try, this pledge, that | will sincerely
endeavor to play a freeman's part as
a true patriot. RI
= 4 will strive to keep an open mind
=, free from bitterness, class haterd, sec
. tionaliSm. SectarianiSm and all mar
row p~rejudices. and intent only on sew
ing my state and country.
!; Il will vote as my own enliShten
" en- conscience dictates, and With
sense of my responsibility to God
No consid arations of personal inter
ests, personal friendship or persona
relationship shall sway me in the ex
ercise of this highest of all my man
Il hood privileges and obligations
l. Il will strive to be such a citize
Y as my country. in her highest need
l. today and in the future, may cour
d upon always. This means that n
d party Of faction can count upon m
le My first and constant allegiance is t
r. my state and nation.
a I'm thus vowing loyalty to m
flag, to my land an to my own mar
n hood, / also pledge myself to use a
honorable Methods to overthrow an
politician or party that in any wis
L. seeks to corrupt the electorate, or thu
brings dishonor upon the America
n name.
h Il make this vow Of independent
it replying upon the help Of the God {
D. our fathers in keeping it."
st The ol~d-fashioned office of beal
he ing witness against evil-doers is
ID form of civic righteousness, e
w never more greatly needed than nov
s. This is the day of democracy. an
Mt public opinion rules. Let all offend
It, ing men in public life, men who al
2, false to private virtue and official il
tegrity. feel the outSpoken cOnden
nation of ChriStion sentiment.
~ dOeS a bad man good to know tn;
he is ~despised by good people. Tn
is virtues most potent weapon in h
=" eternal war with vice.