Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-27
WHENCE WAR AND STRIFE.

Or. Lorlmer. In a sermon last Sunday,
In fremont Temple Boston, gave utter
ance 60 protest against the submission
to the spirit OF war that seems TO rule
q large part OF mankind at the present
time. The outcome Of all war, he said,
IL bad. What can be the compensas
tion, he asked, for "the birth Of the
stern hatred and thirs for blood with
which the weeping Highland soldiers,
burying their general at Magersfontein,
looked across at the frownlng defenses
where lay cronje the lion OF South Airi-
ca? What can all the chasm Of hate
now yawnlng between Scotsman and
Boer?'
The Rev. doctor sees no light Of hope
ahead In the near futurc. He says
such Is the failure Of Christianity
such Is the influence Of our education
and literature. that We shall go on from
bad to worse, and for the next quarter
% century, he says the fight will be
"betwe<i milltarism and the church.
and we may as well be preparing for
IT,"
"You may fail 60 see It now he ex-
claimed but It win be clearer to you
when you see Russia sweeping down
from the North and England siagger-
ing In the East, and we ourselves in
volved in bloody struggle to defend
Brazil"
This Is a notable public utterance. II
directs attention Go a fact which seems
almost forgotten, that war is curse,
and that mllitarlsm is directly opposed
to the mission of the Founder OF the
Christian Church. A voice like that
heard in the midst OF the general clamor
for more soldiers. larger navies, more
destructive engines OF war. and amid
the jubllant shouts for the heroes and
herolsm OF iron and blood. Is almost
lost. Yet. II Is as timely as was the
cry In the wilderness Of the great
preacher OF repentance.
Holy writ gives no indication that
ware win cease before the final winding
up scenes and the advent Of the Master
in glory. The writer Of the Apocalypse,
when viewing In his vision the events
Of the latter days, beheld simultaneous
ly with the miracles wrought for the
bringing OF the East In closer communal
cation with the West, gigantic prepa-
ratlons for a destructive war 20 be
fought ION that great day OF God Al
mighty" (Rev. IS: 40 And the
cause assigned for this last great effort
of mililarlsm is as remarkable as II is
in line with Or. Ioripers denunciations
Of war The author Of the Apocalypse
says:
rAnd | saw three unclean spirits like
| frogs come out Of the mouth OF the
| dragon and Out OF the mouth OF the
beast, and out OF the mouth OF the false
| prophet. For they are the spirits q
devils, working miracles. which go forth
unto the kings OF the earth, and Of the
| whole world. 60 gather them to the bat
tie Of that great day Of God Almigh-
~"
Here the origin Of wars and strife
among nations Is as clearly set forth
as il the true nature Of contention
among individuals depleted in the hlsto-
ny OF Cain and Abel. Both are evil.
and from the evil one.
To the IAtter.day Saints II is import
ant 10 notice that the Scriptures which
depict the dispensation as eliminating
In a great aud sangulnary conflict add
to its graphic prophecy Of war,a caution
to expect al that time the coming Of
the Lord. "Behold" It II said IN that
connection, "a come as thief Blessed
Is ne that watcheth. and keepeth his gar
ments, lest he walk naked. and they
Sc his shame" REV l6: 49, Would
that all Christians" might stand up
FOR the cause Of peace, and be prepared
for the winding-un scenes