Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
National Ideals and Home
Missions
Sermon D.!
REV. FLOYD ". TOMNI>S.
reNt: Isaiah iN;'. Il.

tent: lsaiTh M Il.
1t Is impossible for anybody To- he
a real patriot unless he loves God. God
IL the great ruler over all The earth.
and when NE welcome iii. rule and
follow II VIC find happiness and
strength. All or the evils ina, have
come 10 nations IN IN" wor,d's history
nave resulted from diSobed:e uce to cod
ana Ills law. Therefore the nation
snouid cultivat" Christianity as n part
Oh hcr very 'life. and therefore il is
most hitting that We should on the
zane naE worship God and remember
me dear land He has given US.
Hus there is also another relation
snip h"tween patriotism anh Cod and
tnat is sho",n in the responsibility
Which is ours to make the word bet
YER COO has done 50 much for us
mat Ne ought to do something for
'hosc less highly favored than our
selves We may, in the United states.
keep ourselves, and wisely. from en-
'ansling alliances. but we cannot keep
ourselves from an interest in the
worlds welfare. Wherever wrong Is
done to any Of Gods children there
we are>bound to make a protest Whcr-
ever there is ignorance and poverty
there We arc bound to do what ;"e
may 10 educate and 10 succor. lust he
cause Of Gods blessings. and just be
cause He has given y vision OF
freedom. and just because He has made
us "a delightsomc land in spite OF
our sin. II Is opr duty TO reach ont a
helping hand to our brothers all over
he world.
EARLY DAYS WE'RE
MISSIONARY DAYS
The carly days Of "u. countr: we're
distinctively missionary days We
started as Christian land. and help
came to us from other Christian com
Mt nf.1, l.,
mcnt OF our country IN the seventeenth
century implied spiritual refuge from
tyranny and a religious free dom which
should bring us near TO God with no
human rule comm. between. Hence,
the very idea Of missionary work ia
interviewer with our history.
hut particularly Is all this true Of
home missioms--that is. missions In
our own country In accord with the
spirit which brought orr fathers hith-
or. multftudes have followed until we
nav" in our baud representatives. from
every nation on the face Of the earth
Iy our very standing we arc bound
To DO for them All that can and
10 tell them OF the blessings which
have come 10 Us w. must educate
them and Christianize them. and teach
them morality. and show them how
they can be useful. Al, this is part
OF our patriotism. proof of our low
atty and gratitude
First irust clrc.ie ,ucs. fo--
c!cners. We arc Justly proud of our
public schools. Th~v are :, par, OF
our national life They distinguish us
from all other nations on the earth
and they bring the children Of those
who have come TO our land into :,
citizenship which they rg-.-e and
which makes them ~ part % our coun-
try. We can never lie too enthusiasts
tie about "nr schools. nor cav W. H."
too strongly determine that ihcy shall
Ia.
strong. healthy. moral life
MUST ALSO CIRIsTI.NIZ4:
THOSE WHO COME TO AMERICA
But We must Christiau!ze these ueo-
pie also. Some of them como with a
distant relationship To churches I'm
their own lard. aud We must try TO
bring them int" touch with similar
churches in this country. i:ut many
%! them have lost their faith e they
ever had any. aud We must t.acn them
The first principles OF Chris,lanitv
and let them know thrt they are Gods
children And all this applies equally
to the children OF thoSc who are hn-n
in our land colored children. Indian
children and perhaps children Of til.
monntaineers awa% from the touch 81
civilization. End prrhops also the
children or those ""n. rot being
themselves r%liri"us. h:3vc ,;n, taucht
their children ahou; COD u is part
OF our patriotism TO do all that We can
10 make everybody within our boz
icrs q Christian
And then. as n nation and -; irat-
Ntduals. we must make strong ana
clear that brotherhood which stands oy
an ideal In our land and which mus;
be nourished and made real We
know no class divisions ili America
We may be all free and equal: theorc-
ucally. we are so. Eut the naturc Of
your freedom must ne taught and The
Snirit Of lav
declared.
SEEK TO COME TOGETHER
AND BE; MUTUALLY HELPFUI.
However. we may differ in opinions
and beliefs and matters OF religious
worship. we must let nothing separate
us: but rather must We seek tho.e
things which shall hiring us tor":her
and make us mutually helpful. Home
missions demand that this e"er' truth
% brotherhood. which chriStianltv
came to declare. shall lie everywhere
made known.
Let us first az all thark God for
Him that lie will keen US from deSi,,c-
tive sin. and fi""liv Hsk Him To fill
with n spirit Of hclnfulness which Will
make us useful IN th" worlds history.
GOD or our fathers. bless This our land:
ocean TO ocean owneth Thy hand
itome or all nations from far and rear.
GIVE, 70 unite us, Thy faith and fear
iou or our fathers. falling ne never
God or our fathers he ours forever"