The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-06-02

ST JOHN (EPISCOPAL) CHuRChi oANDA
HOOK, ON MEMORIAL SUNDAY.
Text, Rev. 10 II (R. W "And saw heaven
opened; and behold, white horse and ne
that sat thereon, called Faithful and True;
and in righteousness he doth Judge and make
war"
In ancient times 1t was thought that
might was right. II one nation was pow
erful enough to conquer and possess
another that fact was considered sutti-
Gent proof of the divine favor, such as 1t
was among the heather, for the heather
gods were only what the people made
them. As they made their own gods
they gave them attributes and characters
according to their own minds and hearts.
All people are religious, mankind every
where, in all ages have appealed to God
under one name or another, with true
conception or with false ideal OF the
divinity that rules over all. InstinctlVely
men look to God for approval and for heip
in every great crisis, calamity or time OF
need. All men wish to be in favor with
the Supreme being however true or false
their Ideas of Deity may be. 1t Is proba-
ole that there never was war between
any two nations, or tribes of men that
both did not seek to justify themselves
befure the Lord Of Hosts, for one reason
or another. Hence 1t is that religion has
a great deal to do with war and war has
a great deal to do with religion. For
war is a last resort. When men cannot
agree they must fight it out. IL one can
not convince, or persuade, or hire, or
bride the other to submit, then there
must be trial of physical strength.
IL it be a question of right and wrong in
volying the laws and traditions Of the
nations concerned, then 1t is first OF all
q question Of craftsmanship and matter
Of diplomacy. IL seh-interest cannot be
satisfied by compromise or some mutual
adjustment then each Is bound to main
tain his cause at every sacrifice. In these
later years men, and nations of men have
learned to arbitrate cause, and abide
, by the decision Of others. This Is more
Intelligent and more Christian way, as
well as a more economic method OF set
Ting differences.
There have been various kinds Of war
wars of conquest; wars OF oppression
wars waged to svenge wrongs; wars tt
= maintain the rights of the people; wars
for the sake of liberty; wars for thu
progress of the truth; wars to redeem
the oppressed and enslaved; religious
wars; wars that were unjust and crue
and wars which we're an honor to God
War has always been one Of the chic
factors In the history of the world. w
cannot shut our eyes TO this fact, 1t !!
folly for us to belittle or decry the i'm
portance it has In the evolution of human
lifey let US rather learn the lesson Il
teaches. Every human interest, materi
I'll. social, moral and spiritual stands re-
lated to this grim and terrible arbiter Of
the worlds destiny. The soldier, under
God, humanity speaking, has done more
for the civilization aud moral progress Of
the world, up to this time, than any
other. IL not more than all other human
Observation-Disclosures put together. This may
sound like an exEravagant statement but
when we survey the history of the world
Ia the Christian faith thst God rules
among the nations making even the
wrath OF men to praise Him, overriding
all things TO the accomplishment OF tbs
infinite purpose, / think we can see thai
the soldier has in every age been the
right hand man OF God to WELD the sword
Of righteousness and to vindicate the
cause OF inatice, mercy and truth.
In ancient days the soldier was the
ideal man, and lndesd every man was
soldier. The world In les earliest ages
was rude and terrible beyond our presen