The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-04
PATRIOTIC SERMON
BY PASTOR TOMS
American Legion, Junior Mechan-
les and Ladies Auxiliaries
Attend Sunday Service.
SUBJECT IAN ERIcAN CITIZEN.

An inspiring patriotic service was
held at st. Johns Methodist Protest
ant Church on Sunday morning. The
Mainland Post, American Legion, and
their Auxiliary, and Excelsior Council,
Jr. O. Z. A. NJ, with Sterling Council,
Daughters of America, were present.
The choir sang a special patriotic Sc
lection, and Carl c.. Cain sang Keep
the Home Fires Burning as a solo.
Virgil c. Toms was at the organ, and
pleased all with his selections, which
were of a patriotic nature.
The pastor preached a special ser
mon and said in part:
My theme this morning is, What
constitutes an American Citizen. 1t is
a great pleasure to welcome the Main
land Post, American Legion, and their
Auxiliary; also the Excelsior Council,
Jr. o. U. A. NJ, and Sterling Council,
Daughters of America. | had hoped
that some of the Grand Army Veter-
ans would have been present, with the
Sons of Veterans. My father served
all through the Civil War, and during
the late war, my oldest boy and | had
responded yes to the call, as the
ages came to our limit, and we were
preparing to go, when the armistice
was signed. | have been a member of
the Junior Mechanics for about 81
years, and Mrs. Toms a member of
the Daughters of America for about
that same period, and l have been a
member of the Sons of Veterans even
longer than that.
TT is well to cheer the flag and our
soldiers, but there is more to patriot
ism than that. | have noticed of late
that it seems a burden, however, for
some to do even that, and as the flag
goes by | could not help but see many
who will not accord the flag the cOur-
tesy of taking off their hat to it. Let
us not only cheer the flag, but may
we live true to what it stands for.
What is true patriotism, or, in other
words, what constitutes an American
citizen? The war slogan Do your
bit, not enough. The a or woman,
AS a rule, who does their bit, does
that and no more. That slogan did
not appeal to me. What did appeal to
me more was the thought of each one
doing their best. There is no limit TO
our activities when we do u best.
That isn't the kind that stays at home
and hollers 'hurrah', and rakes in the
money while the boys are away and
forgets them when they come home.
There are heights of patriotism now
that call us, and may we not shrink
nor falter, but measure up to true
American citizenship. The best patri-
OF is the one that lives closest to God.
These are %troublous times. We all
agree on that. The treaty at Yer
sailles cannot give us a permanent
peace, as they left God out of it. We
could not hope for much from the Dis
armament Congress, and we have not
realized much from it, as the nations
are building more engines of warfare
than ever. We could not expect much,
because the minister who prayed
there was told not to mention the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to
his shame he complied with the re-
quest, and did not pray in the name
of Christ. Man may plan, but it will
come to naught, If God is left out.
We must take God into consideration.
Twill our boys have suffered in
vain, simply because our leaders ig-
more the almighty power OF God?
And because they seek to do things in
their way, and not His? May God
help us to be true patriots and count
on His help and His leading to lead
US on to victory. l am not pessimis-
tic, but | am looking for a worse war
than we have just been through, from
the simple reason mentioned, that we
are trying to eliminate God, and man
always make a mess of things when
we try to do it in our way.
What constitutes an American cit
izen, or, what makes a good citizen?
Standing by our Nation, forgetting
self. A toast given a number of years
ago, by one whose love for country |
do not question, but to me, the sentii-
ment is wrong. He said, My Country,
may she ever be right, but, right or
wrong, my Country. l claim thai
gives us the wrong viewpoint and the
wrong standing. 1t were better for
us to say, and will help our nation
better, My Country, may she ever be
right, but, if wrong, may God help me
to use all my powers to keep her
right. We do not have true patriot
ism, we are not true citizens If we
knowinly stand for wrong conditions.
May God help us to be good, true
American citizens, daring to stand for
the right under all conditions. Let us
not forget God and His many mercles
and benefits to us. May we press on
to a noble Christian citizenship, and,
if occasion requires in defense of our
Nation, or the Gospel, let us go, for
getting self, and say And if l perish,
I perish'!"