The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-12

struggle and wreck of nature, come births
OF the new life. The earlier the age OF the
world. the more primitive the FORMS OF
llie Tho whole creation ever groancth'
bat it is because II Is bringing forth the
glorious manifestation Of the sons OF
God. And iu this grooming there are
sounds OF dire import, the nre the sword,
and the famine, wars and rumour5 OF
wars. trihulatiOns the victory can only be
won through the fury OF the fight.
We were not sent into this world 10 be
comfortable. We were sent here that we
might De educated, prepared for higher
things. We were sent TO endure nara
ness as good soldiers Of God. Whoever
seeks the crown must know the cross,
whoever would be welcomed by our dcar
Captain. Christ, must have proved his
pr0wess in the ranks What is the rcite-
rated message OF the Spirit 10 the
churches2 Is 10 not: TO him that over
comcth. / win giye?' 10 IS but feeble
scuumcntahty TO shuddcr at severity.
which. If the world SIS 10 grow. and ma
tions are 90 progress, must at times ho
manifested. Life itself is "a battle all the
time for multiudos, this ga one. not Of
the sentiments. but the facts. of life.
and the time may come in the history or
nation or people when the truest and
best thing that 10 can do Is to give sem
tencc for war
But war means terrible things; 50 it
does-the terrified women and children,
the ruined homes. the burning cities dcs-
olated country. The Outburst OF cruelty
tho famine. the sword. and the pcstilcnce.
True, and we trust the day VIII come
when,
"rhe war drum throbs no longer, and the
battle flags are furled
Ia the parliament of men. the federation
OF the world
But the necessity of war is stiil here,
and it's awful things are matched ia
their way 10y tho awful things of peace.
Have not tribes wlthered away before
years OF comfortable indulgence Are
tho passions OF war more degrading than
the passions and tricks OF the politics Of
time OF peace? Nothing noble can come
ont OF the latter. Something noble
can and does come out OF the
former. The highest human display Of
personal courage. nobility, chivalry, and
hunor is seen ina war. 10 is the nurse Of
sclf-sacrince. The coolest heart Is fired;
the slumboring courage is reused by the
call to battle. and when an lis over, Dee
the cause lost or won, there remains a
floIiouJ sentiment. holy memory OF
those who. foremost fighting. fell. There
Is something mysteriOusly great 10 man
in war; We DO not glory in the famine,
We do not glory i'm the pestilence, but we
do glory in Il great war IN which we
bore part. War, then. is. as far as we
know stil part OF The necessary de-
Vel0pmont Of man.
The Christian church follows Christ
and the Apostles in its climate OF the
soldier. IL uses military language i'm IFS
baptismal Office we receive this child
into the congregation Of Chrsts Church.
ANA do sign him with the sign az the
cross" in token that hereafter DE shall
not be ASHAMED to confess tho faitn OF
Christ cruclfed. but maufully 10 fight under
his hammer against sin. the world. and the
devil, and continue Chrlst's faithful sole
der and servant unto BIS life's end. let
me exhort YOU tonight 10 consider from
tho standpoint of o soldier three great
truths.
Know that you have an enemy. Sin.
Know that you are n soldier Of God
AGAINST sin.
Have faith in your Captain. Christ.
Tho weapons Of our warfare are spirit
Ual, the moral law.
LEE AND JACKSON.
In concluding Dr. carmichael MADE eio-
quent reference 90 the models Of Chris
tian soldiers in the South Generals r.
&C. Lee and Stonewau jackson. fotn
were men who did not hesitate TO stand
up before tho world and proclaim mat
greater than the banners OF human armies
is the banner Jesus Christ.
With the singing of the recessional,
Onward Christian Soldiers" the oxer-
clses came TO an end, and the Biuos re-
turned 10 their armOry, where they We're
dismissed Among those who attended
tho service with the members of the
Blues Association were Brieadier-General
Alonzo l.. Phillips, Major Frank IT, suit
ton. Colonel j. Y. Bideood, Colonel l.
Leslie Spence. and others