Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1915 — Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour [ARTICLE]

Short Sermons FOR A Sunday Half=Hour

... PRACTICAL RELIGION. 'H ,j " - by R®V. GILBERT REID, DJX And hath made of on* blood «H nations of men for to djwofl on *H tho face of the earth, add hot* determined the time before appointed, end the bounds of their xv>L M. Tho Apostle Paul won a phOosophor and theologian. Bettor, ho was man at affairs, practical and »v apathetic. Once ha waa a narrow bigot: ha became a large hearted humanitarian. To his mind as he atood on Mara Hill, in Athens, among the adherents <*f other faiths, there were, two greet principles—dogmas, if you please--worthy of adoption among the ealtlvated of Greece, the strong of Rome and people everywhere through all the agoe—namely, patriotism end *nlversal brotherhood or fraternity. -patriotic is to be religious. This Is good teaching. As an American I cannot serve my God without serving my country. Her destiny in history, her place among the ages, her "times before appointed,” I am to cherish and in solemnity of obligation to use aright. Her territory I must defend. Her boundaries I am to safeguard. There are “bounds of habitation” for us Americans, beyond which let us not dare to go. Neither let any other encroach or assault these, our bounds, All this is part of a common sense'and practical religion. If for ns, as Americans, to be patriotic is to be religious, then in fair play let every one else have the chance to be religious in the same way and with equal Intensity. Nations have boundaries, limitations, an identity and Independent sovereignty. How, then, shall these throbbing, determined patriotisms—as many as there are States—be kept from dashing or held back from war? Will the Church pride Itself again on beinrf militant? Here, then, Is the other dogma, without which our religion will be lopsided, incomplete, harmful. It la the dogma of humanltarianlsm, the principle of fraternity, the spirit of brotherhood. Every one on the face of the earth Is allowed, unhindered, full scope for patriotism, and he allows to all others the same. This nation extends to that the hand of fellowship, the spirit of helpfulness,. deeds of kindness and beneficence. This is good and much needed religion. The opposite Is aggressiveness, spoliaton, plunder and conquest. In the one family all the sons keep their Individuality; but, let them remember they are brothers. In the large family of nations there is the game independence; let them guard, too, their brotherhood.

. “Oh, my children, Lore 1b aunahlne, hate is shadow, Life is checkered shade and sunshine, Rule by lore, O Hiawatha." In this spirit, with the message of (good will to man, Ml patriotic Americans will be doing God service, will have a noble mission to British and Germans, to French and Russians, to every nation on all the six continents, to Jew and Gentile, Christian and non-Christian, and say, -“Rule by love, ob, ye, my brothers."