Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-05
REP, GARDINER
IN fine ADDRESS
METHODIST CHURCH

The auditorium of the Highland
Avenue Methodist Church was filed
Sunday evening when Representa-
tive w r. Gardiner delivered an
address on "PatriotiSm and Person
al Religion" The meeting was held
under the auspices of the Methodist
Brotherhood, ID. S. McNaughton
presiding.
Col. Gardiner said that the word
patriotism had a double derivation.
coming from the Greek word mean
ing fellow citizen and the Latin word
meaning father. The word in our
minus today. means love for colln
trI and service to country. In hibli-
cal times its meaning was best
shown III the commandment Hon
or Thy Father and Thy Mother"
The best expression OF the idea in
the times antedating the Bible times
is that it meant loyalty to class. a
primitive instinct. comparable with
that found in a group of animals.
Tracing the development of govern
ment down to the days when Greece
was III her glory we find patriotism
we'll developed. but it was a charac-
teristic confined to the leaders. To
the people i'll general it simply
meant loyalty to the leaders and
activity for country in time of war,
and the average man had but little
to say in the affairs of the country
Patriotism was then more of quail
ity of restraint than a force to assist
in the development of the empires of
Greece and Rome. Little attention
was paid to individual rights and
patriotism remained a blind devo-
ton to carry out the desires of lead
n A -,
ply blind following of whoever
had gathered the reins of govern
ment. At the time of the formation
OF the Hanseatic League in Europe
the first real conception of the in
dlNlduaFs share in the responsibility
OF government appeared. and this
compared with our present idea of
democracy. Patriotism began to
take on more active qualities and
the patriotie individual began to
Fave more opportunity in devotion
ing the policy of his country. This
was period of great DEVELOPMENT
IN prosperity. production and art.
Inc spirit of those people was
brought to this country by the groun
OF protestants who settled here. 1t
was spirit of protest, not only for
rellslous freedom but also a desire
LOT the political freedom of the in
dlVldual. SO this country presented
.ne opportunity to develop a repre-
sentative form of government
Whereas they before could onlv ac-
complish their desires by revolution
only. they now had the chance
through evolution in representative
government. to bring about the
changes desired. and the quality of
paIrlotlsm became a finer thing.
Inc speaker then read the pre-.
ann of the constitution of the
STATE of Maine. modelled after tho
national constitution. He called es-
poclal attention to the words. "Ac-
khoWled2inS with grateful hearts
the goodness of the SOVEREIGN Rulcr
Oh the Universe in affQrdins us an
opportunity SO faNorable; and. i'm
nioflng Ills aid and direction in it's
accomplishments
Since orr country started tboro
mas been continual change. giving
more and more power to the indiy.
ual ana less to the few thus placing
more responsibility on the indiyid
'ai citizen. Through the ages the
conception of patriotism has chang
ca, Is changing and will continue to
change. and the action of the indiy-
l.
ant in the development of govern
ment. But as the rights inclSase in
the same ratio the responsibility
must increase or the structure which
we seek to erect will fall.
Patriotism must change in quality
from the negative of the old testa
ment teachings to the positive of the
new testament. Patriotism is a
mixture of love and of service to
country, and although the part of
the individual is small. to the small
all things are small and to the great
all things are great.
Col. Gardiner said Along the
hanks of this river passed a man
whose memory will live forever. an
outstanding figure in all history, be-
cause Benedict Arnold's task was the
simplest task in all patriotism,