Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-03
ACCEPTANCE OF LAWS
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE
Waving of Flag Does Not
Make Man a Patriotic Citi.
zen, Says Pastor.
WHY MEN nuRAx THU LAWS


10 Accumulate Wealth or to Indulge
In Pernonni Authenticated to
Teach Children Meaning of Oath Of
Allegiance,
II taxes more than waving a nag
and harrahing on July tho Fourth to
mako man patriotic citi1en. II
takes loyalty to tho ideals of the
nation and obedience to It's laws"
said Rev. w. T. Walters. pastor OF
tho First Christian Church. yestor-
Day. when he spoke on. The I'm
patriotic American Citizen" He
took his text from Matthew XXI. so:
Ana he answered and said. 1 20 sir:
ana went not" Mr.. Walters said, In
part:
II was an epoch making day in
the history of the world when tho
representatives Of the American COLO
mics signed the Declaration of indie
pendence. They were thrilled with
the spirit OF patriotism They had
gotten new vision OF tho PURPOSES
and functions OF a government. Their
Ideal was high and their conception
OF government was that great
FREQ people making their own laws.
and fired with patriotic impulses up
holding and obeying the same. Tho
vision has been realized and their
dream has come true. Those thir-
teen struggling colonies have ex-
banded into the greatest, richest and
freest nation on earth, and It's layal
patriotic citizens are numbered by
the scores Of millions. but there are
others. some with direct intent and
some unwittingly who share these
privileges without being true to
these ideals. Tho Arrangement ia
ideal with a centralized national gov
crnmcnt, and the Individual State
governments so correlated>in aim and
activities as to develop the citizen
and preserve the integrity Of the
nation
Each ha sits Constitution and laws.
and every citizen pledges himself TO
uphold and obey them and every
fice-holder takes an oath to stand
Tor their support and enforcement
The State and the nation say to
him go" and In the language OF the
text. he saya: II go sir" but there
are two classes who say they go
and do not:
The hrst of these Is that compare
lively small group of our citizens,
who are openly avowed anarchists,
and while they are menace to the
nation. their strength is not great
enough to cause alarm. The other
class is much larger and would re-
sent being classed with anarchists
or even being accused Of being dis
loyal: but the Master said: Who
soever. therefore, shall break ono of
these least commandments, and shall
teach men SO. shall be called least
in the kingdom Of heaven"
What shall be said OF the man who
holds that II Is his privilege to obey
the laws OF which he. approves, but
ito disobey and hold In contempt
those which do not have his sane
ton? He is not. at heart, an anar-
chist. but he Is sowing the seeds OF
anarchy. He loves his country, but
Is tearing the foundation from be-
meath Its structure. Tho indiscrim-
mate denuncIation OF our laws and
the officers who endeavor In the per-
Torrance OF their duty to enforce
them. is weakening the loyalty TO
our government more than all the
propaganda being broadcasted by the
| anarchists.
| II an official makes a mistake he
can be removed; IL n law is bad 1t
can be repealed. but IL respect for
the government Is destroyed. 1t will
| take generations to reconstruct It.
! II takes more than waving OF a flag
and hurrahing on July Fourth, to
mako man patriotic citizen. II
| takes loyalty to the ideals OF the ma :
tion and obedience to It's laws.
| Underlying this condition are three
causes:
1. A lack OF parental authority.
The child who has not learned to
obey in the hame finds II hard to
| obey in the State.
2. Greed and selhshness. Men
break or evade the law to accumu-
late wealth or TO indulge In personal
enjoyment. The altruistic spirit is
stifled for personal benefits, and
where loyalty TO the nation conflicts
with self. he puts self first
3. A false teaching about personal
rights. One OF the darkest periods
in the history of the people of God
is recorded in the Book OF Judges
where every man did that which was
right in his own eyes,
Right Will prevail and eventually
these forces of evil will be over
come. but meanwhile it behooves US
as patriotic Christian citizens to
stem the tide OF lawlessness and con-
tempt that is undermining the vItals
Of our nation.
Beginning in the home and con-
tinuing through the school and
through the church and the press.
there must BIO awakened n deeper re-
spect for law and officials and a
higher conception of the meaning of
the oath of allegiance OF citizenship.
When we take a vow to 60, we
must go. for 1t is better not to vow
at all than to vow and then defer to
pay.