The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-05
KEMPER breaches
ON CITIZENSHIP;
ADVISES HEARERS
Takes Christian Citizenship
as Theme for independence
Day Sermon and Touches
Upon personal Liberty"


Taking as his text the twelfth verse
OF the SD Psalm, Blessed is the ma
ton whose God Is the Lord Rev
George w. kemper, pastor Of the Nc
Lemore Avenue Christian church, spoke
10 large congregation Sunday morning
on the subject OF christian Citizen
ship" Or. Kemper sait IN part;
Our recurring Independence Day.
admonishes us Of the growing age and
responsibilities Of our republic. Scarcely
four generations have passed away
since The old bell IN Liberty hall, Phila
delphia, rang out with the prophetic
message, engraved upon its rim. Pro-
claim liberty throughout the land unto
all the inhabitants thereof But the
years that have passed since that
epoch making peal was heard, nave W.T.
messed changes that have affected, not
only our own country. hut the entire
world as well
1T is OF vital Importance that this
nation Of ours shall he a Christian ma
ton, for only as IT Is such, can II pos
sess any real hope of perpetuity. Every
true Christian patriot wishes that
Christian life and Christian principles
may prevail in America and dominate
our American people. We wish thlss
not only because VIC are patriots and
desire, our nation To live and prosper.
but ako because we are Christians, and
desire. the triumphs Of the gospel ot
the Christ in our own people ana
through them for all the world
I'VE shall not live long II we defy
God and ignore the truths and laWr
which alone can build up our national
life, The nations that ARE dead or dy-
ing have been those that have trampled
under foot the laws Of the Kingdom OF
God. To live and prosper and be a
power In the world we must fear God
and keep His commandments.
Character No Accident.
National character is no accident. IL
can only be won by a steady and de-
termined effort It does not rest wholly
with our men In high office. Every
citizen however humble, has his part
to do in shaping 1t, and must do his
part tearlessly and faithfully
I'VE have learned the value Of the
individual. Individual liberty, within
the bounds OF right and justice, was
the great truth for which our fathers
fought and bled and died, Hence, our
liberty Of thought. of speech, of act, to-
day. Yet, there is great danger in too
much liberty, unless we are careful
Cooperation Is essential always 70 true
liberty. Every. man of us Is free to
do as he pleases, only SO FAR as y con-
sistent with the attainment of the
greatest good TO the greatest number,
We can not insist upon that which.
however much desired by some, IS clear
ly antagonistic to the welfare OF others,
Law must be supreme. Aliens from
other lands have mistranslated our
word liberty into license, ana think
OF America only as place Of refuge
for the criminal and a safe heid Tor
lawlessness The criminal must know,
whether an American or foreign born,
that this country viii not tolerate law
iessness He must be taught that the
arm of the law, while sometimes SLOW
10 seek, Is sure to find, and that evil
and wrong doing will inevitably bring
full retribution.
'aThe only sure and lasting basis Of
national and personal freedom, happi-
ness and progress Is TO be FOUND IN
the Christian religion, founded In ana
maintained by the spirit of the Man
az Galilee. All the blessings that have
come to us as nation have been II
gift to us from our God, All the pro-
visions for our comfort and our care
az individuals come from the plying
{ and loving heart of our Heavenly
Father.
Divorce Big Danger.
but we also have our dangers one
OF the greatest is the divorce evil. The
peace and happiness Of our social ne
Is being threatened today MS never be-
fore in the history Of our country
There is lacking the uld-time reverence
and sacredness to marriage VOWS. Mar
riage Is looked upon too much a. a
mere matter of convenience. thlld-
less marriages are also TO blame Tor
much of our domestic infeNctty.
aAnother danger is to be found In
our desecration OF the sabbath, The
sanctity of the Lords Day Is being
forgotten. and instead Of its being \
day az rest and worship, az intended
by God. Il is fast becoming day OF
pleasure and wantonnesa. Gods law
here is being ignored, our sundays
should be precious seasons Of refresh
ings, and cur love for God should
prompt US. TO safeguard the day IN a
way that shall guarantee peace and
safety and happiness TO all our people
"The boss In politics is another
danger too often overlooked by US, This
wac never Intended by the founders OF
our government and should not be toll
Grated by US today, a free people must
be free indeed and not compelled "a
how IN submission to tho will and nc
tates of either "a man or set OF men,
whose god il self and whose only desire
Il Ia secure power. even at the expense
az principle and justice.
,''rhank God our flag today stands Tor
"A united people hut II Is stained ny
avery dishonorable life lived by m
American. The best foundation for a
spotless flag Ia an open Bible' tine
battles to be fought by us IN this cen.
turv are much harder than those wagcd
IN bloody fields There are wrongs tc
be righted. and the Christian is false Ia
Ms country and his God. who refuses
~ assist in rightinE these wrongs
"The eyes of the nations Of the world
are now upon US their hands are
Stretched out to us for help Ia thes,
uncertain days their cry is Como 0Nci
ana help u.s. What shall our answer
be?'