Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-24
DR.. Johnson breaches
TO Of D. AR.
Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chap.
Ter. d. A. r. Observes Gus
tom OF Long Standing
HEAR FoRcEFuL SERMON

FDlowng custom 81 years on the
Sunday nearest 10 the 22nd 90 ah
ruary. Washington Birthday. the
Peegy stewart Tea Party Chapter,
Daughters og American Revolution. st
tended divine service last evening Ia
q body, at ST Anne's church
ST Anne'a ii the church chosen by
the chapter as the idea OF holding this
service for II had its inception with
the former rector, the Rev DR. Joseph
e. MeC0maa A committee appointed
by the chapter waited upon the Rec,
tor, Rev Edward Darlington Johnson
and asked him to preach the sermon,
which he kindly consented To do.
The vested choir led tbs singing Of
appropriate hymns. and short serv-
ice OF evening prayer preceded the
sermon The pulpit and lectern were.
draped with handsome Aemrican flags.
giving d touch OF patriotism to the
church hangings. A large congrega
ton gave marked attention TO the
earnest and forceful sermon, Of mus
ual historic interest, preached by the
rector. 3. u johnson
The rector used as the basis Of his
address the words Of Washington.
Reason and experience both forbid
US to expect that national morality
can prevail in exclusion Of religious
principle 4
He expressed his pleasure In having
the members of the 81 AL X present
at the service Their own record OF
patriotic services, and their interest
In concentrating In religious way
the founders of our nation. made 1t d
Icongenial task TO emphasize the truth
that washington so forcibiy expressed.
The men who fought the battle for
freedom 50 successfully were strong
III the conviction that organized relig
ion alone could preserve the liberties
so dearly won. Since ii happened that
the larger number OF those whose
names are attached to the Declaration
of independence and to the Constitu-
ton were churchmen. II is necessary
to look III the record of their activi7
ties In the church OF their choice. no.
less than in their general utterances,
70 see the expression of those convic-
lions. The speaker gave various illus
trations of good works. both III church
and state. Of leaders In the period be-
fore and after the Revolution.
One illustration was taken from the
life Of Judge Francis Hopkinson, who
designed Christ church, Philadelphia.
and independence Hall. was one of
the Signers Of the Declaration OF IN.
dependence, served as organist In
Christ church and trained the chill
dren to sing the service
It Is not necessary 10 maintain that
the colonists were an entirely homo
goneous lot. each model of pro-
priefy Nevertheless. they were tested
personally and welded socially by
common dangers and experiences
Had outside influences been OF nil
nor sort. and had early enthusiasms
been carefully fostered. various periIs
would have been escaped But this
was not to be.
In the course Of years, emigration
SG&AVu0tg SIhA1ASu Liz NhdkANLkA ~
whole sectors Of our country, leading
To serious misunderstanding Of the ma
ture OF personal equality and of the
promise or American life
An overtowering indnstrialism re-
suited also Iii Indifference to human
standards. and an aIoofness from the
common life on the part of those best
equipped TO minister to n
This aIoofness led to the domina-
ton of city and state politics BIZ those
whose aims were sordid and ma
tnraI consequences was widespread
ignorance 0f American ideals. and an
indifference to that ignorance.
The present var revealed the seri-
BUSINESS Of these evils. but also show
ed that the heart on the nation was
sound. We have taken part in the ma
ton wide campaign to promote thrift.
education. social service. morality,
and feIigiono The campaign had its
urgency IN the crisis tbs nation was
facing; it must be continued through
the period of reaction and re-ad5ust-
ment because Of our belief In the
worth of human beings % such.
The hope Of democracy lies In the
fact of it's essential superiority As q
political device to which We have be-
come accustomed there would be
nothing Of dialoyalty In setting Il aside
Tor something better But nothing
better can be conceived than the train
ing of whole people 70 control their
own affairs for the good Of all Such
training, however. requiring CO.
operation and self control and mutual
service. viii ever need for les insptra-
Ition the vital stimulus pf religion.