South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-12
CIVIC PATRIOTISM IS
SUBJECT OF SERMON
Rev. ShOufleF Declares ReIig-
iOuS influences Are Needed
in Financial, Political and
Social Problems Of Country.

u
Rev. f. f. Shoulder pastor of the
First Baptist church preached a very
forceful sermon on patriotism Sunday
morning In the course or his re-
marks he said:
Occasionally we hear men COM
planning about paying taxes. Some
times man feels that-a tax imposed
hy a municipality, or the state, does
not benefit the tax payer, and in some
instances the one who pays is not
| IL. sympathy with the purpose for
which the revenue is raised, hence he
feels that he has become partner in
an institution which he himself
could not cOnscientiOusly support. If
we are TO heed the teachings Of Je-
i sus we must accept our obligations
to our country and share in its civic
/ responsibility; if a state has bad
| laws and corrupt civil institutions the
citizens must abide by this until SEN
/ timent shall change However a good
citizen will submit TO the will of the
majG -ity The state must grant him
the privilege of free speech and pri-
vste Judgment State and church in
America are not antagonistic TO each
other. each in its own way contributes
TO the welfare Of the other. Viewed
/ from this point, religious belief and
the payment of taxes are both a duty
and a privilege. Jesus was a good
/ citizen as we'll as great religious
/ teacher. He submitted 10 the kind OF
government he found on earth; paid
| his tribute and lived in conformity TO
the rules of state then existing. False
| charges had to be brought against
| him to secure his crucifixion. He was
not found guilty of violating the law.
THE lowly NaZarine manifested the
highest type OF patriotism the world
/ has ever known, ever tolerant, yet OPP
posing that which harms the citizen
or weakens- the bonds which bind men
/ into a nation This was expressed in
his great love for his fellow citizens.
The Christian business man and the
! Christian politician and the Christian
society man are constantly confronted
with the problem. How can l main
taina respectable showing and keep
my self respect" A brass band leads
| a Sunday excursion TO a land auction
where choice lots are sold while the
devout worshiper is at chuGch; legisla-
tive halls are filled with INSCRIPTIONS
grafters who never consider the needs
/ of the Christian labOrer. While soci-
| cites of various kinds. whose MEM
/ beTship conforms 10 Christian ideals
/ TURF loose in gay attire and give side
|
sanctity of the Christian sabbath.
Here we see the necessity of a Chris
| tan patriotism. Our Americanization
/ plans no matter how elaborate, will
fail, unless the religious influence OF
the country dominate the financial,
political and social problems of our
time.
Patriotism and religion flow from
the same source. Hymns of the
-
mingled harmony. A Christian min
lister wrote, MY Country It's OF Thee
and the religion of Christ fosters love
of country. In what better way can
love of God be shown than by an
active aggressive self-sacriticing in
terest in all that pertains to the well
fare of our country and our fellow
man?
Under the folds of the flag man
is free. It's colors nave shed the sa-
cred light of libert-- around the world.
The stars and stripes has been been
the harbinger of peace, freedom and
prosperity 10 oppressed multitudes.
today while many nations are at war,
no nation is unfriendly to us, but
none the less there is urgent need to
keep alive the flame of patriotism.
Internal disturbances are more to be
| feared than the dangers of wars with
foreign peoples In some quarters
| bigOtry would lay violent hands upon
education: caste spirit is striking at
equal rights; alien ideals and vile
purposes would poison the springs of
national life. Against all this it is
the Christians civic duty to strive.
1 am not sounding an alarm, but
/ call 10 make patriots out a million
aliens a year, who are coming into our
| land. While this situation is tempo
rarily relieved by the present war, yet
/ the imperative duty of civilization is
TO provide a more liberal education
and a more extensive religious pro-
gram. that the alien voter may be-
come a real patriot
| All honor to the brave men who
have fought our battles for freedom
but il must not be forgotten that
I there are higher tests of courage and
patriotism than battle ever knew. 1t
may require more courage to be true
/ 10 ones ideals in the face of ridicule
\ than 10 march into the face of cannon
wreathed with smoke. We need he
rOes who can stand by an unpopular
cause, because IL is right; men who
! dare maintain their convictions
/ against contrary social customs; men
that count no cost that duty TO God
and country may be done. Purity is
! the chief glory OF life and ought 20
be our highest ambition. American
citize nship needs nothing greater than
that we should carry with us the up
/ liftirg influence of a pure heart"