Evening star., 1925-02-21
BY REV. HUGH It. STEVENSON.
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Temperance Lesson.)
Golden Text: Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself-Ro-
mans 13.9.

We turn aside from our study OF
the life OF Christ to consider upon
Washington's birthday a lesson upon
Good Citizenship" In turning to
Paul's letter to the Romans for our
quarterly temperance lesson, we have
In the section assigned for our study
q message that is In harmony with
the life Of the Lord Jesus. Our civili-
zation Is a product of the teaching
Of the great apostle to the gentiles,
whose preaching of the Gospel OF the
Risen Christ planted the seeds of our
own national life. Paul found in the
Gospel of our Lord messages of pa
triotism, philanthropy and piety.
President Coolidge, in an article
written when he was the Vice Presi-
dent, pointed out the close connec-
tion between our history and the re-
ligious messages of the Scriptures.
when he said, IF I were preaching a
segmon to my fellow Americans 1
should take my text from the eleventh
chapter of Hebrews, for therein lies
the explanation of our past accom-
plishments and our future expecta-
tions." Our President saw clearly
that while there is q separation be-
tween Church and State, there does
not exist a divorce between religion
L
religion upon our national history
can be traced in the reform move
ments that have swept over our coun-
try. Mazzini has pointed out that
there Is no reform movement that has
not a religious basis. Being a Chris
tian does not exempt one from being
a citizen. 1t calls for every Christian
being a good citizen, according to the
political philosophy of Paul.
Looking back to the days of Wash
ington and recalling our history as a
nation, we can see. what our Presi-
dent has pointed out, that we can
trace in our history the results of
faith working out the application OF
the political principles Of the Scrip
lures. The Constitution was written
'fn the midst of political chaos. des-
perate financial straits and the uncer-
tainty of a form of government, all
untried, yet our forefathers had faith
that America would emerge trium-
phant." Although they had faith in
God and In His program for the new
born nation, none of Washington S
day ever dreamed that America
would be fulfilling the place she now
holds in the family OF nations. If
we are to maintain our prestige, po-
sition and power, we must take to
heart the message Of this lesson that
emphasizes the need of law and order
by pointing out the service, spirit
and source of good citizenship. Every
American ought to be guided by the
principles of political philosophy laid
down by Paul in this lesson. 80 that
we may fulfill our duty as citizens in
public service.
Citizens Service.
The early Christians had a difficult
task to survive without the protec-
ton of the State, that did not recog-
nize the Christian faith as one that
was to be tolerated They were per-
mitted certain privileges because
they were looked upon as a sect of
Judaism, that was a recognized re-
ligion. While governments are OF
God, not every government has ex-
hibited the spirit that our Lord de-
sires that administrations should pos
sess. Had there been the proper
recognition of Gods Will and His law
by those in authority in 1914, man
kind would not have been called to
enter the Gethsemane of nations. 1t
was due to the lack OF Christianity
by so-called Christian rulers in Eu-
rope that forced us to take up arms
to save democracy for the world.
While there will always exist in any
human institution defects, the apos-
tie calls for US to remember Christs
command that men should render
unto Cesar the things that are
Caesars requires that every Christian
should be loyal to his government
Paul would stem the tide of law
lessness that has broken out in our
country like a great flood, by sum-
moning all the Christians in America
to exert their influence, example and
word to help make our land a law
abiding country. One who violates
our laws, whenever he considers that
his interests, wishes or pleasure are
superior to the law of the State be-
comes q destructive anarchist. The
apostle insisted that the followers of
Christ should live lives above re-