The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-05
PASTOR PLEADS
; FOR RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM TODAY
Rev. FackIer Draws Lessons
From Independence
Day.

Udys
Making a plea for citizens to re-
tain all the freedom guaranteed to
them by the Declaration Of indie
pendence, the Rev. L. C. e. Fackler
preached a strong sermon Sunday on
This $50 Years Of American Lib
erty'' at ST. Matthew Lutheran
church.
zone hundred and fifty years ago
today" the Rev. Fackler said. "the
f~orefathers Of our country, after
earnest deliberation, decided to de-
clare themselves independent. They
did not do this to multiply their
troubles.
They were not a trouble seeking
class of people; neither were they
for peace and liberty.
.They believed that the Govern
ment should be of the people, by the
people and for the people. Such no
BILE thoughts inspired the fathers of
u country. They had an eye to
the future and desired to bequeath
to their posterity true liberty, not
My civil but religious liberty. Z
- Now we are the recipients Of the
efruits Of their efforts. AS long as
we as a nation do not permit our
selves to be entangled with the yoke
of bondage and as long as we stand
fast in that liberty wherewith Christ
has cmade us free we shall enjoy uri-
told blessings.
Our Nation has OCCASIONALLY suf-
fered internal and external disturb
ance during the century and one
half, nevertheless Dur peace and lib
erty were not seriously effected. We
as a Nation ought on this day to
be thankful for the $50 years of
American liberty which we have
been permitted to enjoy.
"The event that took place on this
day had nothing to do directly with
the salvation of souls o with the
work of the church. We do not
commemorate a fact on this day like
on Good Friday or like on Reforma-
ton day, yet there has been deliv-
cred unto us on this day the right
to worship God according to the die
tates of our conscience Influenced
by Gods word.
Religious Freedom
"Some historical facts bring to
light the dep measure Of devotion
which impelled our ancestors that
they might bequeath unto US real
civil and religious blessings. The
members of the Lutheran Church
were a great factor in helping to
lay the foundation stone Of our coun-
try. AS early as 1882 a colony of
Lutherans settled on American
shores. The early settlers were not
Without spiritual care.
, 1.-THE first Protestant minister to
be buried in this country vas a Lu-
theran minister, the Rev. Jensen.
Not until about 1903 did the Luther
ans migrate to this country in great
numbers.
1.-THE cause for this was the con
ditions brought about by the thirty
years war. The people turned their
faces then to a land where they
might enjoy better conditions and
be permitted to worship God unmo-
Tested. Some settled in Pennsyl-
vania and others in the State of
Georgia. From these settlements
came many loyal supporters Of
Washington who took an important
part in the Government Of the early
days.
1T was through the earnest
effort Of the Lutheran Pastor Much
Ienberg that six tribes of Indians
were prevented from taking part
with the French in their warfare
against the early settlers. The Roy
alsAmerican regiment under General
Boquet gained the day at FIT. Pitt
and checked P~ontiac's conspiracy.
No More Bondage
"History tells us how our fore
fathers stood fast in t~hatliberty of
Christ and were not entangled with
the yoke of bondage. What will be
said of the future generation? VIII
they abuse the liberties Of today ana
consider liberty a license to do what
ever they please?
"Who knows what-the future will
bring Iorth, We can easily surmise
If the citizens will not follow the
teachings of Gods word. The
kRtion will not rise above the stand
sMd of its citizens. AS the character
of the citizens so the nation. If the
young and the old will not imbibe
the true word of God and their
characters nodded by the spirit of
truth, can they stand firm in true
christian liberty?
fsCan we expect a Muehlenberg,
a body of fusileers or a Washington
or a Lincoln?. This ought to prompt
us to be faithful to Him unto
death. He died in order to secure
eternal salvation for those who are
His.
I'VE need to keep our. feet from
~entangling alliances which win
shackle the future citizens there
fore divine guidance and christian
ndinO ic noa1aJ 1,x, oil +ho.o