The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1917-05-29
BIBLICAL WARRANT
FOR sElECT|vE 0RAFT

Ancient Custom. or Ihe DutieS OIL
citizenship" Sunday morning, The
text was from Luke 2.I-4, There
went cut a decree that the nation
should be enrolled. Z Context Ro-
mans 13.17.
Rev. Mr.. Hamlet said in part.
On the 9Th day OF June next, ac-
cording to decree sent out from
| the national capital. every male citi-
zen OF this country who Is between
the ages ef 81 and 80, both included,
il to register his name az possible
subjective for the selective draft.
Men are to be called upon not only
to fight, bat to do that which they
are best capacitated 10 do, for the
GOOD OF his country during the pres
enl time OF stress What he will do
in this great scheme OF cooperation
he is not allowed to ray. nor should
he be so allowed His government
reserves the prerogative OF selection
While this may be something new
under the sun to an American. 1t
is By no means without precedent.
We have Biblical warrant for ii.
Two thousand years ago Augustus
sat on the throne of Rome. His
armies were eneamped the entire in
hahited world over. for Rome WAS
mistress Of civilization Augustus IS
sued decree that all citizens Of the
empire should be enrolled The au-
thorized or ancient translation oil
the Bible says it was TO be taxed,
but that was an anticipation of the
translator. The decree was that all
citizens should be enrolled. No doubt
il was taxation. among other OBJ
iects. Probably it also anticipated
entrance into the army under the
Roman standard. Hence, it was a
system OF selective draft. In order
to simplify matters. Augustus al
lowed the Jews to enroll according
to their own choice. which was for
each man to go to his tribal town
for registration. In Galilee there
was q man who was q carpenter by
trade. who belonged to the family
OF David. and who, therefore, was
compelled to go all the way from
GaIlilee to southern Judea, TO the
town OF Bethlehem, TO register.
This mans name was Joseph. He |
took with him on tais trip his es-
pouSed wife. Mary. adding both to
his own cares as well as TO the evi-
dent discomfort of Mary. because of |
her condition. Nevertheless, his
country babe him register, and being |
a loyal citizen, he could do no other |
way, cost him howsoeyer much 1t |
might A true citizen never counts |
the cost when his country calls. Be-
ing ordered 10 enroll 70 rthe selec- |
tive draft flor il evidently included
either taxation or military service, /
or BOTH, he went. This is the con-
crete example. Now look at the abb
stract. you will find that part OF
the text I'm Romans 1911.
This scripture among other things
contains the following items: Gov
eminent. as The exponent Of law
aud order. is OF Cod, and exists by
the approval of God Rulers, as /
such, are Gods adeaeons and
tHtnrgtsss'' according 10 the Greek /
If this text This of course. is In |
the abstract, yet al that time the
ruler vas the impious Nero. for Paul
wrote this long after the time oil
Augustus. Governments. as expo
nents OF law and order. being Of God.
Christians should honor and uphold |
government. good government, law
fuI ANA orderly government, and
should pay tribute and taxes TO them,
according to the text in Romans.
re reeapsiuIate: Government Is OF
cad Rulers are Gods deacons. |
Christians are Gods example Of Jos
seph. Isgs raler deereed that all cit
liens should be enrolled. Govern
ments are Of God, and Joseph hon
orad God. Therefore. Joseph must
honor the principle Of government
To honor government is to obey its
preeepts. Joseph had to obey. all
though 1t cost him and Mary much
discomfort Joseph walked seventy
five miles 10 enroll his name and
was much encountered by having tol
take Mary along with him. yet bel
responded Joseph was no Stacker.
lie was not ashamed Of bis name
re put 1t down on the government
list according TO orders. Joseph was
a good citizen Joseph believed God.
The fitness OF these two scrip
lures TO the present time Is quite
apparent. As citizens We are called
ri . ettH