Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-12
, MAYOR MCLEAN
| The SPEAKER AT
EVENING SERVICE
Interprets Christian Citizen
ship In Talk at Methodist
Church Before Interested
Audience

Before a splendid audience which
greeted him enthusiastically, Mayor
Mclean at Green street church last
evening spoke on THE Ideals of
Christian Citizenship" In introduce
| ing the mayor Mr.. Garland. the pastor,
| declared that not always was he war
| ranted in inviting the leaders of some
communities to speak in such a place
or on such a topic, but that in the
mayor of Augusta was found a man
who represented in his public life and
private integrity those ideals OF civic
responsibility that made It both a
pleasure and a privilege to enjoy his
presence at such time.
With a sincerity and emphasis that
| made a deep impression Mayor Mclean
called attention to those ideals Of re-
ligious life that caused our forefath-
ers to face the unknown dangers of a
stormy sea and a trackless wilder
ness in order that they might lay the
foundations of new state where the
high concepts growing out of a def
mite sense OF obligation to Almighty
God should find room for increasing
expression on the part OF all, and that
their efforts were chiefly successful
because of this very fact.
He graphically portrayed the meet
ing of the first Congress when, after
long days of fruitless debate. Frank
lin called attention to the fact that so
far they had failed to recognize the
God of NatNns in any of their deliber-
ations and offered a resolution to the
effect that at once they supplicate the
Divine favor. which being done he de-
cIared that from that hour progress
began to be made that finally was
crowned in such unanimity as brought
forth the famous Declaration OF Inde-
pendence.
Attention was called to the signifl-
canoe Of oath taking on the part OF the
executive and judicial officials OF the
land as a recognition of the place re-
ligion held in all the supreme affairs
of our national life, maintaining that
it was a common understanding that
an omnipotent God was recognized as
ruling our national life. He spoke OF
the place the church held In the early
days of our country's founding, show
ing how the fathers habitually set
aside what were called public lots"
for tho use Of the general court, one
for the schools and two for the main
tenance of religion, and that to this
fact of the Intervening OF religious
principles in the warp and woof Of our
early history was due the peerless
leaders of which the nation Justly 10
so proud, and that for our present
time the Christian church demands,
and should receive, the proper support
to enable II to function in the process
OF character building; that If we are
to preserve the high ideals represented
not only in their private thinking but
in their public activities religion must
still find its place in their lives. Thus.
he said, civic virtues will find warrant
and support. He maintained that
Christians should and would recognize
their civic obligations and gladly
share the responsibility of making
possible in public life and affairs those
standards of action aud service as
contribute to the highest good Of the
body polite.
Many expressions Of pleasure were
heard on every hand. making it evil
dent that the mayors views were cor
daily endorsed and that he had
struck responsive note in the minds
and hearts OF all.