The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-23
REMARKs IN OTHER PULprrs.

-LietlI lO IGuIl--lOfs tie DeLelIi OL ClN- ilization and of Christ.
 REMARKS IN OTHER PULPITS.
 Christ's Increasing Reign in the Statesman
 ship and Diplomacy of the Nations-The
 Worlds Best Assurance Of Peace on Earth
 and Righteous will Among Nem.
 Said Rev. pr. Newman Smyth in the course of his Christmas sermon yester- day forenoon, which was based on the words 'Ephesians 2-"Wherefore re- member that at that time ye were without Christi
 Jesus increasing reign in the states manship and diplomacy of the nations, more than ties of kinship and blood, is the worlds best assurance of peace on earth and righteous will among men, An eastern fable related that there was a massive tower reaching high into the air, and that every hundred years an angel descended and brushed the top of the tower with the tip of his wing. And an English essayist, Thomas De Quin- cey, represented the length of time that must elapse before the brush of the an- gels wing could reduce the tower to the level of the plane, as the measure of the ages which must pass before men should learn war no more upon the earth. If might were the supreme law of nations, and only an occasional visit ation of some higher faith should sof- ten the proud will of man, then indeed the vision of the age of3universal peace might recede into the infinite distance, and the progress of humanity be only a hope of brightness appearing for a day to be again overclouded, like the iburden of~Dumah, "One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said The morning com- eth and also the night. But another prophet of the Lord foresaW the time when "it shall come to pass in that day. that the light shall not be with brightness, and with gloom; but it shall be one day which is known unto The Lord; not day and not night, but 1t shall come to pass that at evening-time it shall be light" That day of the Lord shall not end in another darkn ass, but in light at evening-time, Because our world is left no more to occasional touch of the higher love, but because the Christ has dwelt among us, and His spirit is making all things new among the nations, we expect the constant approach, with ever quickening chariot wheels, and the final coming of the Kingdom of God on earth.
 If, however, at this approaching ,,yba Joo .boJ nf a momentous issue has fallen between two Christian nations, I may seem to disappoint the wishes of those who would have all our pulpits this day de- voted to the words of international peace, I thus refrain from public com ment on the preliminary positions now taken by our government, not because of any failure on my part to appreciate either the seriousness of the time, -or the obligation, alike historic and patri- otic, of your pulpit to give no uncertain sound on grave matters of national and Christian veal. But when the passions of men are, af1ame, and when essential facts and principles await final investi- gation and calm determination in the fear of God, some studious silence may be the first condition precedent to ulti- mate wisdom of decisive speech When momentous issues are at stake, impul- sive and incorporate utterance even of the holy desires for peace may provoke in the popular sentiment reaction to- wards opposite folly of warlike passion. When the credit of the nation is to be maintained by it's united financial wis dom and power, any incompetent de- nunciatorv expressions of summary judgment may serve but to add fuel to the flames already threatening incalcu- lable loss to the two leading civiliza- tions of the world. At this critical time poise of intelligence, coolness of spirit, and the wisdom which shall surely in crease with the months that shall elapsa before final positions must 'be taken, are the chief public virtues, and the most religious obligations of patriotism to be observed by all who love righteous ness and pray for the peace of the world.