Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-01-28
An Inspiring Message to Mem
bers of Junior Order.

the M. ". council, Junior Order or
the United American Mechanics, sat,
with pleasure and profit, at the feet
Of Rev. G. W. M. Taylor, pastor of
the Methodist church, be having been
invited to preach their annual SER
mon. Mr.. Taylor has for many years
been member of this fraternal Or
der, which is founded upon Patriot
ism, Virtue and Liberty.
After giving expression to words
of welcome, Mr.. Taylor announced
as his text, Matt. 22:21, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things
that are Caesars; and unto God the
things that are Gods" Mr.. Taylor
made an impressive contrast of the
kingdom of Caesar and the kingdom
of God, one being temporal and the
other eternal. He stated that he could
best demonstrate the all-embracing
character of Gods kingdom by draw
ing large circle and then drawing
in the big one small circles represent
ing other kingdoms. Citizenship in
the kingdom of God is large enough
to embrace all other citizenships and
all other governments, which are at
best but material and temporal, while
Gods kingdom is spiritual and eter-
nal. Caesars government was the
best government that the people then
living had ever known. Some of our
cardinal statutes have come down to
this generation from the old Roman
laws. But this kingdom stands out as
being very human, being held togeth-
er by force. Caesars kingdom was
limited and has passed out of exist
ence, while Gods in infinite and will
go on and on. Caesars was imper-
feet; our Lords perfect. Imperfec-
tions caused the downfall of Caesars
government. All man-made govern
,ments are imperfect. The lust of gold
and al.s the luss sofs asrra Ms.
Taylor, viii creep in, causing fric-
tion and disintegration. Caesars
kingdom was earthly, while our
Lords was heaven born.
Mr.. Taylor said that if Caesars
kingdom is to be perpetuated in JUS
tice and purity, let him come to God.
Christ lifted up His voice against sin
and wickedness; like John the Bap-
tist, He cried aloud and spared not.
Some people say one has no right to
mix religion and politics. Such peo-
pie have no religion, said Mr.. Taylor.
Religion is intensely practical. Christ
walked among men and held high
standard of living. In every human
pain there was a counter pain in His
breast.
In referring to the unprecedented
prosperity which abounds in the land,
Mr.. Taylor said there never was be-
fore so many active agencies for
good, which is but an outfowing of
precious streams from the kingdom
of God. In an effective climax, Mr..
Taylor asked: "Where does the world
look today for bread to feed the hun
CRY and for the building up of the
waste places of the earth but to the
land where Jesus is honored?" Ad-
dessing his brethren of the Order,
Mr.. Taylor said: "We have work to
do as patriots and if we perpetuate
liberty and justice, we must look to
Him for strength.
Mr.. Taylor said the American Sab
bath is peculiarly identified with all
that is sacred and holy and, after re-
ferring to the shameful manner in
which the Sabbath is desecrated in
Europe, he exclaimed: "God save
America from an European Sab
BATH" The Sabbath is a day of rest
and recreation and not a day for
frolic and amusement. 1t is a day to
be spent with our families in Chris
tian homes and in attendance upon
public worship in our churches.
If we would uphold and perpetuate
our great Christians institutions, said
Mr.. Taylor, we must keep our eyes
open and be ever watchful, teaching
by example as well as precept. We
must strive to uphold our country
with a strong, Christian citizenship.
All strength and all power will come
from God, if we will render unto Him