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June 5, J912] THE]
CALVINISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL
LIBERTY.
BY THE REV. G. H. HOSPERS.
The other day I was reading in Bibliotheca
Sacra of July and October, 1895, Dr. A. Kuyper's
article on "Calvinism: The Origin and
Safeguard of our Constitutional Liberties." It
need hardly be said that it is an able production;
a masterful array of the facts of history,
and their interpretation, supporting a proposition
of gravest import.
The subject is too notable to be readily dismissed.
IIow we dote on liberty! Who would
not stand aghast if some divine intimation
should prophesy its removal from our midst!
However, occurrences as unexneeted and sppm.
ingly impossible have taken place before. If
the proposition of Dr. Kuyper is true, then, on
account of the widely prevalent and increasing
disregard of Calvinism, we are now actually
undermining the foundations of our national
fabric. Evidences of national decay can be
pointed out, as it is, and by the logic of history,
at some time, the dire penalty will have to be
paid.
This is using strong language. But the learning
and the sound sense of the writer differentiate
said article from the illusions of the
alarmist. It were well, as our national welfare
is at stake, that it be seriously considered,
instead of dismissing it with a benevolent smile.
The article points out in detail that constitutional
liberty has flourished where Calvinism
prevailed, and he singles out Switzerland,
Holland, England, and the United States
of America, as these countries. Of republican
France he has this to say: Conceding that
"much that is precious has been obtained by
its means" (that is, the French Revolution)
"that good was stolen fruit, ripened on the
stem of Calvinism under the fostering glow of
the faith of our martyrs, first on our own soil
(Holland), then in England, and presently in
America." "Poor France, which after exhausting
herself for the sake of a false idea, having
battled through fourteen revolutions, and worn
out every form of state, still hurries on . . .
in pursuit of liberty, which forever eludes her
grasp." Likewise, true liberty does not flourish
in Mexico and the South American Republics,
hotbeds of chronic revolution, and repeatedly
in need of petty despots and dictators;
these notoriously ltfck the indispensable safeguards
of civil liberty. At considerable length,
the learned writer traces back the constitutional
liberties of the United States to the Calvinistic
leaven which its founders introduced,
and he draws a picture rather flattering to our
national pride.
We are now ready for inferences pnd applications
tft nreoonl nArxlUlAnn TTT1 a i- -a
juvaviii bvuuuiuiiDi ??iiai is ui present
the attitude of the people of the United
States toward Calvinism? The great majority
neither know nor care about it; and the
churches which according to their standards
profess it, are lukewarm towards it. Indeed,
very many are ashamed of it, and do not wish
to understand it, or persist in confounding its
miserable caricatures with the true original.
As a result tlie fnnlto r'oi.r;?-?
...? w <JI UDKIUISIII ItlC II l _y ill K
?P on a tree whose roots have not been watered
these last decades. "Where is the Puritanism
of New England? Boston is in the harids of
Catholics, and is now the home of a cardinal.
Where is the Calvinism of New Amsterdam?
Tt is the seat of Mammon, and of the Tiger,
and another Cardinal dwells there. The official
religiousness in proclaiming Thanksgiving
fray, and opening Congress and the Legislates,
aye, political conventions also, with
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SG
prayer, is a rather thin veneer. The Christian
stamp which once characterized pur public
schools is fast giving way to exclusion of the
Bible and its teachings, and the immorality and
unruliness of our youth is giving our educators
a difficult problem to solve. The rule of the
machine and the prevalence of graft are characteristic
of a heartless despotism, and despite
occasional spasms of virtue, are bound to reappear
; the heart of the nation is far from
regenerate; it is rebellious to the restraint
which divine authority demands.
What lends powerful support to our contention,
is the attitude of the people towards the
origin and nature of government. Calvin
1io](1k if as Hprivod fmm OnJ ""J ...U ?
v?v4*tvu xivui viuuj anu wiicrcvcr
this was so held, there people governed and
were governed in a good conscience towards
God, and there civil liberty thrived. The godless
French Revolution denied this completely;
its vaunted liberty was a giving the free rein
to an evil, cruel, self-seeking heart; unspeakable
misery prevailed, and its liberties proved
to be of such a nature that they could readily
be exchanged for the despotism of Napoleon.
As Calvinism is decaying in England and
AniPrinn io if nn/ii^A?i+nl *ki ai? ? '"
nvtiu^uiai mat me seii-asseruon
of the masses, gaining their way for mere material
ends, hy means of intimidation and violence,
is advancing apace? In politics ultrademocratic
ideas are creeping in, and Socialism
is raising its horrid head in an ominous way.
Judge Gary, of the Steel Corporation, probably
not a Calvinist, recently said at a New
York dinner: "I tell you, gentlemen, that
there are things being said nowadays which
are very similar indeed to things said just before
the French Revolution." These are the
symptoms of a system whose principles are directly
at variance with the Sovereingty of God.
It may be objected that too much is done
for the Kingdom of God to warrant such a
view of present conditions, and you point to
wide-spread evangelism, Sunday School work,
missions, etc. Indeed, these activities are potent
for good, and must be prosecuted with
even greater energy. But these things do not
touch the root of the matter. Present day
Christian activity directs its energies towards
sweetening the flowing stream of sin, but it is
sadly neglecting the bitter fountain. We are
playing a losing game however skilfully we
may move our pawns and knights, whereas,
we should boldly proceed to the attack by
bringing out the queen and 'the castles as
well.
In conclusion, and once more: If Dr. Kuyper's
proposition is correct it follows that our
present neglect presages grave danger. Are
we interested enough to make a thorough estimate
of the situation? We of the Reformed
Church in particular, lineal descendants of
those who held and profited by these prineii
- ? - -
i/ica, nave u grana opportunity before us, if
we are only willing enough, and resolute
enough to come into our own. We have reason
to confess delinquency; our heritage has
been held in a perfunctory way; nothing will
avail if done in a half-hearted way. A determined
course of action, and significant support,
will go far. If a pious incredulity continues
to smile away, well contented, on the
rumbling volcano, we are lost.
Ontario, N. Y.
Let the man who goes to church, who reads
the Bible, feel tkat it is peculiarly incumbent
upon him so to lead his life in the face of the
world that no discredit shall be brought upon
the faith that he professes.?Roosevelt.
IUTH (609) 5
ISABEL'S SUPPLEMENTAL WORK.
"What good is a kindergarten training if
I can't use it?" said Isabel disconsolately, to
her beloved minister. "Father wished me to
take the course because he thought I would
be more useful, and now he doesn't wish me
to teach. A daughter of a wealthy farmer
can't do much good, training or no training.
I can't bear to waste my time here when there
is so much that really needs to be done in the
great cities."
"How would it do to help the mothers in
the village a little?" suggested the minister
kindly. "I notice a good many needs as I
make my parish calls."
"It would never do to organize a Mothers'
Club," said Isabel emphatically. "There isn't
a mother in the village who isn't older and
wiser than I am."
"Perhaps you can help in a more unprofessional
way," said the minister, smiling. "1
think if you would make a few calls upon
some of your friends who have children and
no servants, you might find what I call supplementary
work. I don't know exactly what
it would he myself, but I feel sure that you
will see the opportunity and know how to
meet it."
"I will go at once and make the calls,"
said Isabel, rising, "and I assure you that it
will be in the real spirit of discovery."
At the supper table, Isabel's face was a
study. Finally she burst forth. "Mother,
Mrs. Smith's sister haB a little baby four weeks
flirt finrl Mro ^.ni + V> tioon 1?
, ?* v uiunu 11 cion l t v in seen it, uccause
she can't leave the children long enough
to go to X for the afternoon. And you
Know how Mrs. Toby likes to read, don't you?
Well, she hasn't been into the library since
it was built, because Sallie gets into mischief
if she is left alone. Mrs. James hasn't been
to the sewing society since the baby came, a
year ago, and she said laughingly that she
was truly homesick for a bit of gossip."
Isabel's mother smiled. "I thought you
would find your work," she said.
Isabel found licr work. Every child in the
village, who could walk, came to her father's
great barn every Saturday afternoon until
cold weather. The large barn doors at either
end were thrown open wide, giving a beautiful
view of the farmlands. A number of Isabel's
young friends came to help, and such
fun as the children had! They played kindergarten
games, romped in the hav. and bad
some delicious sugar cookies at the end of the
afternoon. And the mothers left at home felt
that a little bit of heaven's quiet had been let
down especially for them. In addition to this,
Isabel spent two afternoons a week taking a
mother's place in a home. Mrs. Smith had
a beautiful visit in the next village with her
sister and the new baby. Mrs. Toby's bookloving
soul was made happy by whole afternoons
in the village library; and Mrs. James
felt that her social nature was revived by
loving intercourse with the members of the
sewing circle.
"Well, Isabel, did you find some use of
your kindergarten training?" asked the old
minister, quizzically, six months later. And
Isabel laughed joyously.?Congrcgationalist.
The contribution which the "Titantic" and
all who were on it, and all who had any interest
in it, made to the speed mania was the
heaviest yet known. Because the speed was
demanded by the traveling world was no justification
of it. Tf those who seek to meet
this demand will not take the lesson just given
them, little sympathy need be given them when
like dire results are counted up.