Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

t;.T h e GhristiaD flation-4 Journal of Christian Civilization.WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1, 1893. .New Yoek.Terms: 5 cents a copy ; $ 1 50 a year, in advanceEditor and Manager,Johu W. Pritchard.D&partment Editors :Department of 3/is.sio7is,'Rey. F. M. Foster.Sabbath School Lesson, Kev, T. P. Bobb.Primrary S. S. Lesson, Grace Bamilton George.Prayermeeting Topic, Rev. T. H. Acheson.The Week in Review, Prof. J. M, Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet 8. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Eev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Corner,Mrs. Bev. E. J. George,Mrs. M. B. Gibson.Associate Editors .Prof, J, M, Coleman,Eev. 0. D. Trumbull, D. D.,Eev. W. J. Coleman." The Ideal Woman " is the titlaof our contributedarticle for next week. Ic was read at the Literaryand Social Circle of York, N. Y,, and so highly appreciatedthat it was asked for in order to publish in thesecolumns, For this kindness, ourthanks are due to theEev, W, C. Allen.STUDY OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.We made reference last week to the fully equippedDepartments for the teaching of Political Philosophy inJohns Hopkins and in Columbia. The institution whosePolitical Philosophy Department ranks next in the numberof branches taught, is that at Ann Arbor, Michigan,where there are at present close to half a hundred studentsworking for degrees in this line of study. Thenew University of Chicago, also, contemplates, eventually,covering possibly all the branches, although atthis writing they have but two professors in this Department,and are seeking a third. The desire to teach thisscience of growing importance has reached Canada, too,and Professor ] M. Littlejohn has received an invitationto inaugurate a School of Political Science in connectionwith one of the Canadian Universities thatwishes to come into line with modern Political Philosophy.A large subsidy is offered as a foundation.ATTITUDE OF THE STATE TOWARDR GOD'SLAW.In the appeal of the Pennsylvania Sabbath Associationtothe public, ou behalf of the Lord's Day. we findthislanguage: "Sliall this Ghristian nation place itself Ibefore the world as having renounced its allegiance toGod, by wantonly violating the sacredness of his holyday?" If the natiou aver bad placed itself in allegianceto God by acknowledging tbe authority of hisSon a'jd law, such a wanton violation of God's holyday, as is feared, and tucb as we have seen persist^edin for icany years by tbis nation, would hardly bepossible. It would not be renouuoing allegiance toGod, for this allegianceit never admitted, and actuallyrefused to acknowledge. It would only be persistencein a rebellion it has all along manifested. SupposeGod's law 88 it relates to national affairs were the recognizedrule for nati'jnal legiblation? Immoral lawscould hardly bs enacted, aud if they were, the SupremeCourt would soou declare such laws uncoustitutional. As matters uow stand we have no safe-guardagainst the enactment of the most iniquitous laws re­CHEISTIAN NATION.garding the Sabbath and other institutions dear to thehearts of Christian people. Just now many goodChristian people are trembling forthe ark of the Sabbuth.They plainly see the danger to which it is exposed—thatit is liable at almost any time, to be sweptaway from them as a legal day ot rest and worship.Many of the^e good people, too, are so terribly afraidof that fearful bugbear, the " Union of Church i,ndState," that they refuse to take any efi'eptive steps toplace the diviue institution of the Sabbath—whichwas made both for the state and the ohurch—in thefundamental law of the land, where it could not be interferedwith by godless legislation. There is wherethey will have ""o put it if thev wish to keep it. Thechurch alone cannot save it. State and churoh mustboth unite to perpetuate by keeping holy a divine institutionwhich makes for the highest welfare of both.Just now we behold, in this Ohristian Nation, thestrange and humiliating spectacle of Ohristian men appealingto their representatives at Washington not tovote to open the gates of the Columbian Expositionon the Lord's Day. It is a shame that such an appealiS needed. What should we think of a Constitutionof government that gives to weak and corruptible menthe liberty to make a football of God's law, and whatshould we think of voters who call themselves Christianmen, who seem to ba perfectly satisfied with sucha Constitution?JAMES R. McKEE,The telegram which reached our office last Fridayevening announcing tne death of James E. McKee, ofPittsburgh, Jan. 27, was hke a startling peal of thunderfrom a clear sky. There was no previous announcementof his sickness to prepare us for such atelling sentence as this : "James R. McKee died ihisafternoon at two o'clock." Holding the telegram in atrembling hand, we could only turn our f£.ce heavenwardand exclaim, "Help, God: for the godly manceaseth ; lor the faithful fail from among the childrenof men," It is impossible to think of him as lyingcold iu death. To poores and hundreds of Oovenantersthe melancholy tidings will come with a poignantsense of personal grief. We are not speaking of privatefrieudsbips, formed during his busy life, bnt ofthe hosts of Christians aud members oi our belovedohurch wbo knew him only as the untiring aud faithfulTuEASuBEE of the funds of the church." Tbe air is full of farewells to the dying."Phillips Brooks has gone from the fiout ranks of Iheclergy ; Benjamin F. Butler has gone from the frontranks of the members of the bar ; James G. Blainehas gone from the front ranks of modern statesmen ;Eutherford B. Hayes has gone from the front ranks ofour Presidential rulers ; and now from the front ranksof the loyal sons of tbe grand old Covenanter churchof America, James E. AlcKee has just gone to jointhe great of eartli in the immortal service of the worfdout of sight. While we strike his n^ime from the rollVolume 18.God. "He i^ uot for God took him. " The fi-ver whiobstruck him dowu oue week ago ia over forever. He trustedin the grace of Grod. He bowed at the manger withhisgold aud frankincense. He knelt at the cross with his peni­of the church militant, God's own hand enter.-) ifc on tence aud faith. He stood at the open sepulchre withhi§the roll of tho church triumphant.love aud his faith. This ie the reason we speak his praiseiAlthough James E, BIcKee has long been prominentin the church and community, he w;is only iuthe maturity of young manhood. He had scarcereached the line of filty. He gave above oue full scoreof busy, BUSY years to tlie Master's work, aud to thepromotion of the cause of Eeforui ation as carried forwardby the Covenanters. His Covenanterism wasdeep-seated, broad, enthusiastic, and intelligent. Itwas inspired by an abiding faith in the ultimate andglorious destiny of Eeformation Principles. It centeredin loyalty to "Jesus Christ as King of kingsand Lord of lords.'' Such was his c' ar vision ofChrist and Chrisi's beneficent reign tbat he said tohis own soul, and also to his ffllowmen, "It is awonder beyond measure tbat mt-u who know anythingabout history should dare unthread one least filamentfrom the outmost fringe of the kingly robes of JesnsChrist,"He was born iu a Christian home and had the advantageof a thorough Christiau education. Hisfather was the late John A. McKee, whose face lookedout from our pages only a few weeks ago, through themedium of a well executed portrait. The footsteps ofhis father's mourners still echo in the air, as his funeralprocession takes up its line of march to the samecemetery.Mr. McKee took many of the advantages ot the educationalfacilities of the present day, while he followedthe rhercabntile life he retained the literary tasteswhich he had acquired, Wheu in early young-manhoodhe was a member of a celebrated literary sooietyof Allegheny oity, and was looked upon as one ofitsleading lights. It was in this organization thatheacquired the command of himself so that he was ableto speak with fluency and poiut in the Boards of thechuroh and upon the floorof the Presbytery and Synod,He whole heartedly devoted his talents to theservice of the Lord. While in his teens he organizedand conducted and largely supported, out of his ownmeans, a flourishingmission-school in the upper pwtof Allegheny city. He organized more than one suohschool during his life. He was a Christian merchantin the fullest sense of that term. He was in businessfor the Lord. He not only gave his time to the Lord,but he gave his money. The church remembers moretnan one gift of over $1000 which he gave. The Lordwas not unmindful of his liberality. He prosperedhim as but few young men in the church have beeuprospered. In 1871 he married Miss Edna S. E.Gregg of Pittsburgh. This marriage was a true marriageof hearts. For over twenty two years their twolives were as near oue as it is possible for two hves tobe. Tbey had both the same tastes and syrapathiesand aims. His death is the one great grief in tUe lifeof the new made widow. VVe can assure our dearfriend that in her loneliness there are thousands ofhearts making intercession for her and for the belovedsons and daughters by her side. He left twosons and two daughters, Gregg and Allen, Edna andEstelle ; Gregg the older son pursuing a course ofstudy in the Western University, Pittsbnrgh.Mr. McKee ^was elected a deacon of the Pittsburghcongregation under the pastorate of Dr. A, M,MiUigan aud afterwards he was elected an elder in the samecongregation under the pastorate of Dr. U, McAllister. Heenjoyed the love and coniidence of both of theee eminent'ministers of Goa whose hands he steadily upheld.Take him for all in all, and our church has no youngmau beyond him for ability aud integrity, and gennineworth. As sou, as husband, as brother, aa deacon, as elder,as treasurer, he was a model man.Now that he has gone tbere is uo uncertainty as to wherehe is. That friend of ours who lived in God is uow withand whisper our lament, and strain our eyes to look np theglittering path over which he has gou