The St. Joseph observer., 1916-05-20
TRUE PATRIOTISM
Written for the Christian Science Montorl

Patriotism. the love of ones coun-
try embodied, is an emotion which
is governing many hearts today. lead
ing men 70 sacrifice mortal life and
possessions for human ideals. The
greatest act of heroism that the world
acknowledges is the giving of ones
life for cause, and the soldier who
fearlessly faces an enemy and dis
tinguishes himself by bravery, thereby
wins earth's honor and praise. But
what a ritiful thing it is that this pa
triotism which in its initial state
seems good to man, in its ultimate
expression of war works death to his
brother II would seem natural to
suppose that loyalty to the same emo
tion would unity men, but when this
emotion is born of diversified objects
it is found to be the very source of
dissension and strife. This fact i'm.
pels human consciousness to the con-
viction that there must be some one
higher cause of better sense of pa
triotism, uniting all men in the love
of one IDEAL, which alone can assure
eternal peace to mankind And be
cause there must be such a cause it is
possible Tor human consciousness to
discover il and to be delivered from
destruction by obeyng il.
Jesus the Christ, heralded as the
Prince Of Peace, was a perfect eXem
plaT of true patriotism. He laid down
his mortal sense of life for his king
and his country, God and the realm
of spirituality, but it is distinctly no
ticeable that the exercise of his pa
triotism did not lead to any act OF de
struction toward his fellow men. The
bugle-note of his advance was, Il came
that they might have life, and thai
they might have it more abundantly.
Though a native of Palestine, he helC
his citizenship in the kingdom of God
of Love, of Principle, as of primar!
importance, and he ever knew tha
this spiritual existence was likewis,
the real kingdom of all. Hence, h,
fought not against men as his enc
mics, but against the evil of passion
love which seemed to drive them t,
war. He ever regarded men as his fel
low citizens. not as aliens, praying
that they might become conscious o
their at-one-ment with God, and witt
him as he was conscious of it. Hi
loyalty to God or Principle, his ST.
preme Ruler and Father, impelled hi
loyalty TO man as his brother, 10y
atty which ever led him TO protect
save, uplift, and glOrify another
though this other came against hir
. with sword in hand. On account {
> his spiritual understanding of God a
Principle, Jesus replaced the servant
lowers, while on his way to be in
prisoned and finally crucifed by thi
same fellow and his companions. Mo
tai patriotism expressed in war, pre-
duces sin, disease and death. Chris
Jesus exercise of true patriotism elm
mated these. This fact is food fC
thought today.
Jesus primary devotion TO the hin
of kings and the universe of Spir
made him secondarily obedient to tn
laws of Palestine wherever they di
not infringe upon Gods law, the la
of divine Principle. He paid his take
enjoined his disciples TO be law-abiC
ing; he submitted to Pilates deere
concerning his crucifixion. But he di
not comply with the law of Jerusalem
which outlined that he should conseI
TO the stoning to death of the adulte
Gus woman. proven sinner deservin
Of her punishment according to III
human judgment Of that day. Instea
3 Of casting her out he cast out the 81