South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-06
SPIRIT OF NATION
is RIGHTEOUSNESS
SAYS REV. RODGERS
Pastor Of Sunnyside Church
Delivers Striking Ser
mon on Nation.

Or. NJ NJ. Rodgers. pastor Of the
sunnyside Presbyterian church.
preached from Proverbs 1875.
"RiEhteousncss exalteth nation
while sin is a reproaeh to any peo-
pie"
During the great world war many
people were saying that this is the
last war OF any consequence that
the world Will ever see. i wish that
/ could md assurance in the state
ment. but / confess that I cannot.
IL seems % me that the world is
preparing for another war. The hor-
rOrs OF the late war will soon be
forgotten. The nations of the earth
are rebuilding their armies and nav
les. and they are giving too little at
tention 10 the things that have the
power To ward of war.
Reverse Order.
We. with other peoples. have too
often put first things second. and
second things first. We have too Of
ten emphasizes essentials.
Righteousness alone Is the secur-
ity OF "A nation. L believe TO a Ger
tain extent in league of peace, but
we shall never have a guarantee of
peace until we have a league OF hu-
man hearts.
a We often think Of governments
and nations as If they were some
thing apart from human beings. but
they are not. nation is simply
human beings organized for Ger
tain purpose and in certain man
ner Righteousness is the one thing
that makes true human beings, and
really exalts "A nation.
Exalts Nation.
Righteousness eXalts nation be-
cause Cod blesses those that honor
him, and IL is by righteousness that
we honor him. The relation between
God and his children is ~ simple
as that between the teacher and
the pupil when that relation is
reduced TO the ideal The teacher
will honor the pupil who does his
best for the eacher, and Just so
God will honor those that honor
Fim by their Righteousness. God
never forgets his own. Re did not
forget Joseph in Egypt, or Daniel IN
Babylon.
Again righteousness exalts a ma
ton because from its very nature II
is that which actually eXalts. Food
builds UP the tissues of the body,
while a poison tears them down.
Righteousness is the food of moral
beings, while sin is the poison. The
only true riches of "A nation is her
manhood. Anything which builds up
her manhod exalts the nation. Young
people, you can well part with any
thing which viii add TO your man
hood and womanhOod. II you can
spend money and increase manhood,
IL is a good bargain. If you use
your talents and spend your time in
way 10 increase your manhood, il
is good bargain. A holiday
ought 10 be a great blessing TO our
people. but il "A blessing only when
II enriehes the nation in character.
History Proves.
History proves TO US that right
eOusness exalts a nation, while sin
Is "a reproach to any people. This
is very plain in the recorded history
OF Israel. Cody rulers led the peO-
pie in the way of righteousness, and
the nation prospered. Evil rulers
turned the people from God and in
variably the nation suffered period
OF decline. IL power alone can save
nation. then Rome ought not to
have fallen. II culture could save a
nation, then Greece ought to have
been saved. But historians tell us
that these nations lacked in the
character of the people, they lacked
righteousness. and they were abased.
Germany did three things that will
destroy any nation. She had her
beer gardens. she deSecrated the
Sabbath. and she left God out in her
philosophy and theology. These
three things viii destroy any nation
No nation is secure unless founded
On righteousness.
In America today, we are trusting
too much 10 the things which do not
CXalt a people We glory in materia
prosperity. But material prosperity
is a blessing 10 a people only whcr
her spiritual prosperity is common
surate with her material prosperity
We do not believe our bible 10 be the
word of God We read in the bible
that God tells us TO remember the
Sabbath day To keep il holy" But
we are not doing it. We are allowing
immortality To do her awful work
among our people. III this day we
ecd statesmen like William +. Glad
stone and John Hay. men who be
lieved that the security of 4 people
depended upon their fidelity TO God
China's need for transportation
facilities Is immense. With a terri
tory one-sixth larger than the Unit
a a. -