The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-02-13
AN ELEVATING CITIZENSHIP
nxr IOIIM RER M hRn McCEE

10y JO4A4N 9Ed1k1N1A1bA@ hAONAAG
TEXT: "Let your light so
shine before men, that they
may see your good works and
give glory to your Father in
Heaven" Matthew SIG.
One time high school boy in the
Civics class asked why our govern
ment spends so much money for the
maintenance of our public school
system. In search for an adequate
answer he felt that our government
has deep concern about the JOY
and comfort of her citizens and in
setting up accessible means for pro-
viding a wealth of knowledge. How
ever, it does appear that she is far
more concerned in providing the
training requisite for making good
citizens. So our homes, our churches
and our schools, both public and
private, must be concerned in
training our youth for a noble citi-
zenship.
Now good citizenship is illumina-
tive because the good does shine
forth. First of all the good citizen
has learned something worthwhile.
In school, in church and in the
home the individual gains worth
while information. Along the way,
he meets up with whole series of
problems for which he finds the
proper solution, each by each. So by
the time that he graduates he has
become acquainted with the facing
of problems and the finding of the
way of solving them. After gradua-
tion he enrolls in the school of life
and here he meets the most difficult
problems which life has to offer.
His advantage lies in the fact that
he has learned how to analyze the
most difficult situations so success
fully that he has been able to find
their solution. Now in the school of
life he can use the same information
and the same methods in analyzing
life's problems so that his efforts
will be crowned with success. He
viii prove to be a very good and
useful citizen
Now after gaining useful know
ledge the good citizen will proceed
to do something worth while with
it. To be useful his knowledge must
be put into action. Such usefulness
marks the career of such people as
ministers, teachers, lawyers, doctors,
merchants, farmers and host of
professional men.
In the third place good citizens,
who shine, have long since learned
to respect the rights of others. Be
sides enjoying life for themselves,
they each one will assist others
around them to enjoy life also. We
do not look for thieves, liarc, bur
glars, murderers and the like within
a group of good citizens. 1t is true
that we must consider others when
ever our rights and privileges run
counter to the rights and privileges
of others. 1t only goes without say
ing that good citizen refrains from
taking advantage of those who are
less fortunate than himself.
In the fourth place no good citi-
zen will share any part in any form
group which disregards the rights
of others in attempts at their oWr
gain. One hardly sanctions group
of college students hanging a Gov.
ernor in effigy. Nor can one scarcely
sanction the theory on which mod.
ern strikes are operated. A riot is {
harsh form of mob rule, and in its
rankest form violence and blood
shed often occur.
Such are some of the marks OF
good citizenship which we hope tc
teach and inculcate in our boys anc
girls in the home, in the church anc
in the school. Let your light sc
shine before men that they may SCI
your good works and give glory tC
your Father in Heaven,