The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-04
THE GOOD SAMARITAN PARABLE.
Rev. M. L. Haines Uses 1T in Referring
to the Present Crisis.


christianity and War was the subject of
sermon preached by Rev. M. L. Haines,
pastor OF the First Presbyterian Church,
last night. His text was: 1T shall come
to pass in the last days that they shall beat
their swords into plowshares and their
spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not
lift up sword against nation neither shall
they learn war any more. Isaiah ii, "a
1T looks now as though this nineteenth
century will end as it began-with the roar
of battle and the tragedy of war on land
and sea-" said the pastor. 1.-THE Napoleonic
wars which ushered in the century were
waged with the dominant purpose of con-
quest and caused the French people to go
mad with the lust of national aggrandize-
ment. They cost four million lives devasted
the fairest parts Of Europe from Madrid
to Moscow, and France is to-day suffer-
ing from their long-continued, wasting eff
fects on her national Iife"
And yet, he said, Europe is more than
ever before organized on a military basis.
Some of these nations, with standing armies,
Notifications, navies and annual budgets for
maintaining them, are like the knights of
the middle ages. On peace basis the
armies of Europe contain 3,5000 600 soldiers,
their navies nearly 100000, for which $780,
100000 is expended each year. All this in a
thousand ways, burdens and blights the
lives of the people. If war should break
out in Europe 100000 men could be placed
IN the field. who can estimate he asked.
what would be the WaStage and destruc-
tlon, the suffering and horrors that would
folloW?'
Turning his attention to the conditions in
this country, the minister said the land is
overcast with a war cloud, and it had
seemed on the Sabbath day as though the
rumDnngS OF the awful tempest could be
heard He did not take the view Of some
Christians, who answer with an emphatic
NO mo" the question, lsiwar on the part of a
christian nation ever justifable? War"
SAID Dr. Ha1nes, lis destroyer, and vet
as one tells us, 1t may, in the overruiing
providence of God, become a civilizer and
Chrlstlantzer.' Dreadful as it is, it yet often
nourishes those preparatory virtues upon
winch the other more perfect virtues after
ward flourish. IT incites to great and noble
actions, to heroism, endurance and patient
1t is nevertheless true, he said. that Chris
uanity, in its teachings and spirit as a
IRENE position taken by the Quakers he
said, society owes them debt of gratitude
for bringing to the front the truth that the
reign of universal peace is one of the great
enos of Christianity. christian men and
churches" said he, lou 1T to proclaim that
far more than they do, aid hold up war only
as an exceptionable and dreadful necessity
or last resort"
Continuing, he said:
1T may be, probably will be, many long
and weary years before the vision Of the
prophet shall be realized and the spears
shall be beaten into pruning hooks; but the
time will come when the white banner of
peace shall float over all lands-when the
doors of the temple of Janus shall be closed
never to be reopened.
But in the meantime what? Jesus
Christ is the Prince of Peace and enioins
men individually and collectively to cult
Vate and show a peace-loving spirit And
even when men feel impeled to resort to the
arbitrament Of battle they should do it un-
der a high and solemn sense of their re-
sponsibihty to heaven both for their spirit
as well as their actions. 1t is certainly a
matter of thankfulness that even now in
this time Of extreme tension and proVOca-
Hon. tlhon, "h 6,, passions are SO easily excited
executive of this Republic and the great
majority of our citizens such spirit Of
self-control and patience, united with firm
ness in the right as God gives us to see the
right.
America, if she goes to war, will not so
passion. We shall see to it that there be
no rash action nor any hysteric temper.
The resources of all honorable diplomacy
must be exhausted. The course of certain
politicians here and there exhibited who
seek to handle this tremendous problem so
that 1t will be a gain to their respective
parties should be treated with the contempt
it deserves The conduct of those news
papers, few in number though they be,
which for the sake of notoriety and a
larger circulation have been aggravating
serious condition of affairs and melting and
inhaming the minds of men to rash courses
of action is both detestable and criminal.
If any persons at such a. time as this should
be branded as traitors to their country such
persons should.
"And if 1t is decided by those in author
ity, who in Gods providence have been
chosen to direct our national policies, if it
shall be decided by them that the cause
OF suffering humanity on that fair flower
Of the Antilles calls for direct and imme-
diate intervention and relief then we will
see to it that we act as nation the part
of the good Samaritan. For the parable has
application to nations as well as to indi-
people that have fallen among thieves, that
have been robbed and wounded and are in
danger of being utterly destroyed by their
assailants then have we as a Christian ma
ton the right to pass by on the other side
and say, 1t is no concern of ours? 1t is our
concern. We are to a degree our brothers
keeper. America must not ignore her re-
sponsibilities to the weak and suffering"