Christian Citizenship Gains Ground in Sunday Schools
IN the Chicago Tribune of July 20, editorial mention is made of a rapid hold which is being gained by the “Christian citizenship” idea upon the Sunday schools in this country. The following statement of facts is set before us:— Last October there began in this city a movement which has since been absorbed into the propaganda of an international body, and now seems likely to obtain recognition in many ways which its originators did not anticipate. The First Presbyterian church of Austin had been much moved by the death of President McKinley. The pastor of the church, Dr. S. M. Johnson, in thinking the matter over, came to the conclusion that the children of the Sunday school ought to be more thoroughly instructed in the duties of Christian citizenship. Accordingly, he set aside a certain Sunday for exercises of a patriotic character. The idea was adopted almost immediately by the Cook County Sunday School Association. Last month it received similar treatment at the hands of the international Sunday school convention at Denver. “Standing for Christ and country,” the convention recommended that “the teaching of Christian citizenship be combined with that of temperance on the Sunday known as the ‘World’s Temperance Sunday.’” The results aimed at are diverse. First, there is respect for law, and hatred for anarchy. Second, there is the discharge of the duties which citizenship implies. Third, there is love of country. The promoters of the movement put all these into the phrase “Christian citizenship,” but from what they say it is evident that their idea is triple. The symbol adopted is a flag containing, “By This Sign Conquer,” in white on a blue field, with a red cross on a white union. With reference to the flag, Dr. Johnson has said: “The church should have a flag that will stand for religion, as the national flag stands for patriotism, and this flag should be to the church what the stars and stripes are to the country. The use of the flag in conjunction with the national flag would say to the eye that Christianity is in favor of government as against anarchy, and in favor of good government as against bad government.” The Tribune’s added comment, that “these are lessons which the young cannot learn too soon,” shows that the movement is likely to be strongly approved by the public press. In view of such developments in our midst, is it not important that we should know ourselves and be able to tell to others what is the true Christian citizenship which God approves?