Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-29
KENNEBUNK PASTOR
GIVES F0RCEFUL TALK
i'm ALL SOULS CHURCH

no evil N community. state or ma
lion can resist determined citizen
ship i'll which is the love Of the law,
for their inner law, their inner public
conscience, will create and sustain law,
making the words Of law living and
dynamic"
This statement was torcefully made
BY Rev. Robert P. Doremus, minister
Of the First Parish Un!tarian) church
Of kenneounk in a powerful address ou
Pilgrim F>ulfiilments in Our Civic
Life" given under the auspices of the
Women's Alliance before a large audi
ence Wednesday afternoon in the par
lors of All Souls church.
How many lower motives" h. went
on. enter into the selection OF our off,
Gals for community, state and nation.
Many choose carelessly or inciGerently,
for reasons of personal advantage or
favor. for reasons Of party expediency.
self interest, prejudice, partisanship all
sorts OF motives govern the voters.
I hen. once chosen. the official becomes
for his term OF Office. a symbol of law
ard order, entitled to the respect and
cooperation OF those whose SURFACES
have given him a place Of authority.
The capacity to choose intelligentIy is
the primary capacity Of citizenship and
with it belongs the capacity to follow
leadership. An elected official Is no,
mayor. governor. president Of his party
but OF the whole body'of citizenship in
community, state or nation, and is en-
titled to their utmost cooperation in ev-
cry honest effort.
''To fulfil the spirit of the Pilgrims
is to keep law flexible to present needs
1t is the duty Of every citizen to be
concerned that his community. state
and nation should have adequate. time
IT, laws. We suffer laws TO remain on
the statute books which no longer an
swer to human needs. and we fail to
enact laws to answer to present needs.
Take. for instance. this question Of mo.
ton pictures. We labor in our efforts
after reform that 10 this State no law
has been written specifically governing
the character Of the pictures which may
appear or providing for the censorship
Of pictures. We need an adequate cen
sorshtp law in the State Of Maine. There
10 At present no specific law In the State
as to the character Of motion picture
films. but there is a law In the State
which makes unlawful, under penalty
Of heavy fine or imprisonment, the pre-
sentation Of any show which manifestly
tends to degrade the morals of youth.
The applicability Of this law to the films
being shown throughout Maine must be
plain to any man or woman of COM
mon sense. yet the films go on being
shown in theatres throughout the State.
The trouble lies in that public sentiment
which is the impelling force or lack CT
impelling force to officials and juries,
We are lax in our views Of law and
law enforcement and our Interpretation
Of law IL not in spirit and meaning
That which makes law effective is the
will Of the citizena
III we wish to preserve our civiliza-
ton against the perils Of bolshevism,
anarchy and wild radicalism. then let
every loyal man and woman in good
faith support the law in its manifest
spirit and intention. whether or no he
was In sympathy with its enactment
Let the lawyer regard himself and be
regarded. not as one skilled to find his
way through law and around law, but
as one under solemn obligation to up
hold the law, as one who is a priest Of
law. with an ONCE as holy as was ever
the once of priest at altar"