The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
CHRISTIAN AND WAR TIMES.
Sermon of Rev. MIR. Sims at Meridian
street NJ. Il. Church.

sermon Oh Kew WIZ SINS ~ NA~A
street NJ. f.. Church.
Rev DR.. Sims. of the Meridian-street Nj.
E. Church. had yesterday morning for his
text, I'VE will remember the name OF the
Lord our God" Psalms, Xxx, Z or 5. His
theme was 1.-The Christian in War Times
"On Thursday morning last" said he, "a
message of rare tenderness and reverence
came from the President of the United
States, requesting all Christian people, at
their next assembly for worship, to offer
thanks for the victory which God has given
our navies with so little loss OF life. and
for the success of the army with its heavier
losses. He also requests that prayer be
made for the speedy return of honorable
peace and the accomplishment of the ends
for which the war was inaugurated For
myself, 1 do not for a moment doubt that
God rules the nations; that the events of
armies and navies in His hands; that
He himself is building up faith and
civilization in the world which are to be in
harmony with the teaching of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and that His omnipotent power
viii be used to further His end of making
the kingdoms of this world the kingdom
OF our Lord and of His Christ
THE history of the Spanish people has
been marked by severity of cruelty and
peculiar Spain was early a Jealous Ro-
man Catholic nation. Spain had the SUI
preme honor of cooperating with Christo-
pner Columbus in the discovery OF America.
other nations turned the great mariner
away as an enthusiast and mistaken adj
Venlurer, while Spain equipped him tor that
voyage OF discovery which Is the brightest
in the history OF this world. AT that time
Spain became the possessor of the West
India isiandS and of much OF this continent.
She was among the foremost nations OF the
world in that early day in schemes of dis
covery and occupation. But even then the
characteristics OF cruelty and greed were
strangely harbored in the Spanish mind,
along with a religious devotion as extraOr-
binary in it's way as they were in theirs.
The lnquisilion was born in Spain. :
Spain carried on the long and bloody war
gave to the Netherlands the Duke of Ava,
ana bloody Mary to England. So that for
Gods purpose of free thought ana free con-
science spain has been a constant obStruc-
ton 10 the civilization of the world. When
fernando Cortez conquered Mexico his
greed and cruelty appalled, the nations.
When Hizarro LED his forces into Peru the
scenes of Mexican perSec utions were dupii-
Gated and intensified, and from that day
to this no single instance of Spanish infiu--
ence can be pointed out as tending to the
general elevation OF humanity. Where, in
all her colonies, have peace and liberty and
progress found home? For nearly five
hundred years the history of Spain has been
a history of oppression and cruelty, of igno-
rance and bigotfy. The spirit of modern
1t seems to be the order of Gods proV-
dence that the northern nations shall lead
in the worlds civilization and freedom.
Spain and Italy have made great conquestS
in their time, but, piece by piece, the rich
booty which they won by blood has been
WreSted from them, and to-day they are
among the pauper nations of the earth.
Iualy is land of beggars and OF poverty
extreme. Rome contains vast aggrega-
ton of the multtudes of the wretched poor
and the Italian nation staggers under it's
overwhelming national debt. 1t is said that
the wealth of st. Peters alone would pay
off the national debt of Italy, and yet this
vast wealth, untaxed and unsympathetic OF
human poverty, is held by the Pope, whose
palace and prison is the Vatican And So
after four hundred patient years, God
seems to have ordained that the cruelty and
oppression of the Spaniards should have
Spain to-day. stripped of her navy. hope
lessly awaits the hour of destiny Her
courage Is supnme, put she cannot ngnt
against God and man. 1t would seem as ii
the greater part of the conflict must be
past, but who knows? So far, God has given
us victory, but who can foretell the future2
There are individual deeds of heroiSm yet
to be achieved. There are the solemn offer
ings of life TO be made upon the invisible
affairs of patriotism in the roar of battle,
the delirium of fever. the solitude of the
jungle. Let our hearts go out for the brave
men who shall come back no more. Let our
tendeTest sympathy be for the loved ones
who shall know a bereavement past all ex-
preston, and let us not forget TO pity the
conquered. The men in the field are not re-
SpoHSiDle Ior the great wrong under which
humanity suffers. Men high in place and In
position are the guilty parties. Let us pity
the Spanish soldier as he fights and dies.
Let us stand in solemn amazement in the
presence of the heroism of the Spanish Of
ticers who will die rather than surrender
There are duties for the conqueror The
brave must be generous and true, God-fear-
ing and noble. The hand of America must
lift up where il has pulled down. 1t must
build up where it has smitten. 1t must give
to the nations II frees hope and future,
and to do this II must be strong enough
to lay aside the temptation of conquest. ard
greed and gain. even for territorial extern
sion and glory and fight as he I'D Knights
of chiValrY fought for huma litY.I,