South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-23
CHRISTIANS DUTY TO
VOTE, SAYS PASTOR
DR.. Edwards Claims Christians
Will Be True to Demands of
Citizenship.

Continuing his series Of sermons
on The Christian in the Modern
World" Rev. DR.. Loren NJ. Ed
wards. before a large congregation
in the Methodist Memorial church.
last night spoke on The Christian
in the Modern State" rs Christian
life compatible with modern poll
tics?" ne asked, and pointed out
that If religion and statecraft can
rot harmonic then one or the other
must be abandoned.
Christianity recognized both the
fact and necessity Of government.
The state was 20 Jesus a divine in
stitution. If he were hear today
and should attack our social and
political policies, our Institutions Of
government and state as he did in
Palestine We should regard his con-
duct as Enthusiastically political in its
bearing and would reckon with him
OH such a basis. said the speaker.
Jesus vas Obedient to the laws and
subServient TO the state. He be
heved in government although He
despised it's corruption and depre-
Gated its tyranny. Christ's approval
Of government was not in the form
hut in lhe fact. His command 10
render the customary tribute to
Caesar was not for Caesars sake but
for laws sake. His obedience to
the Roman government was not be-
cause il was Roman but because it
was government. His opposition to
government was not because of the
outward forms but because of the
inward wrongs. According to His
conception no right 10 government
rests anywhere save in the viii or
God.
Christ's theory Of political govern
ment was summarized by DR.. Ed
ward, as fellows: BE obedient and
loyal as citizens OF the state. OPP
pose with all vigOr the oppression,
the corruption and the tyranny Of
the state. The source of govern
mental authority is finally God Him
self The Kingdoms or the world
are ultimately to become the king
CONS of the Lord and Of Christ.
Christian Duty to Vote.
1T becomes a Christian duty to
exercise. the franchise, TO vote on
ali questions % public interest ana
TO be obedient TO rulers in munich
pality and in state and in nation.
4 Christian will register, he will
vote at the primaries, he will vote
at the election, he will take part in
political affairs and ne will be true
10 the demands Of his citizenship.
The pleas in this pulpit for peace
and the arraignment of the pre-
Paredness hysteria reflect not mere
ly upon the present administration
but also upon the announced plat
form If Pres't Wilson's chief rival
for the supreme Office ia our ma
ton" said the speaker.
The chief fundamentals Of our
government may be good, the lead
ing policies OF one or another of
the political parties may be the eX-
preston of ones personal views and
Yet many national policies may be
unchristian, many officials, may be
bad. and many features of our ad-
ministration may be crooked. There
fore. il becomes the Jnchallenged
duty of the Christian TO speak out
against wrong, 70 point out fallacies,
10 arraign unworthy or corrupt Off
Gals and TO use the hydraulics of
Christian appeal and effort of prayer
and franchise TO right every wrong
Of state or nation. When political
ethics are at stake. when moral
problems are in the balance. when
questions Of fundamental right are
10 be solved. then the muzzled or
the dumb pulpit is an onense 10
Cod aud nan ~