Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-27
THE KAISER'S SERMON
Preached by the Emperor on the Inn
perial Yacht Hohenzollern.
DRAWS A FIERY BATTLE PICTURE
Declares That Prayer is as ESSEN
tial as Weapons.
COPIES PRINTED FOR ARMY
correspondence Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
BERLIN, August IA, 1900.
Thousands of copies OF the sermon re-
Gently preached by Emperor William on
the yacht Hohenzollern have been. pub
hshed for distribution among the German
sailors and soldiers in China.
His majesty chose as his text the elev-
enth verse. of the seventeenth chapter of
Exodus, And 1t came to pass. when Moses
held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and
when he let down his hand Amalek pre-
vailed
After reviewing the text, the report Of
the sermon as printed6n the Kreuz Zeit-
ung quotes the emperor as follows:
"A hot and bloody struggle has begun.
Many of our brothers stand already yonder
under fire, many are on their way to the
enemy's coasts, and you have seen them,
the thousands. who at the call Volunteers
to the fore! Who will be the guardian of
the emDire?' now assemble to enter the
fight with flying colors. But you, who re-
main behind at home, who are bound by
other sacred duties, say, do you not hear
Gods call, which he makes to you, and
which says to you, Go up on the noun
tains, raise up thy hands to the heavens?'
The prayer of the just can do much If 1t
is in earnest.
A Holy Battle Picture.
THUS let it be- Yonder, far away, the
hosts of fighters; here at home the hosts of
praying men. May. this be the holy battle
picture also of our days. May this peace
full morning hour remind us-may 1t remind
us Of the sacred duty of intercession, of
the sacred power of intercession. The
cred duty of iEterceSsion. Certainly 1T is
an enthusiastic moment when a ship with
the young men on board weigh anchor.
Did you not see the warriors eyes flash.
Did you not hear their many-voiced hur-
ra his? But when the native shores vanish,
when one enters the glowing heat of the red
sea or the heavy waters of the ocean, how
easily brightness and enthusiasm grow
weary! Certainly it is sublime moment
when. after a long voyage. in the distance
the. straight lines of the German forts can
be seen and the black, white and red flags
of the German colony become visible, and
comrades-in-arms stand on the shore wait
ing to give hearty reception. But the
long marches in the burning sun, the long
nights of bivouac in the rain! How easy
gaiety and strength vanish. Certainly it Is
longed for moment when at last the drums
beat to the charge, and the bugles are
blown to advance, when a command Is
given, Forward at the enemy But then,
when, amid the of the guns and the.
flashing of the shells, comrades fall to the
right and left and hostile batteries still re-
fuse to yield-how easily the bravest heart
then begins to tremble.
Divine BIessing Asked.
christians. In order that our brothers
over yonder may remain gay, even In the
greatest distress. faithful in the most pain
full duty, courageous in the greatest danger,
they want something more than ammuni-
ton and sharp weapons, more also than
youthful courage and fiery enthusiasm.
They want blessing from above, vital
power from above. otherwise they cannot
win and remain victorious. And the heav-
emily world only opens to prayer. Woe to
us IL we are idle whilst they are carrying
on a hard and bloody piece Of work; wee
to us If We only look on curiously at the
great sight whilst they wrestle in a death
struggle. This would be Gains spirit, with
the cruel words, Am 1 my brothers keep
er?' This would be unfaithfulness toward
our brave brothers who stalking their
lives Never. We will mobilize not only
battalions of warriors. but also a holy force
Of praying men, How much there is to ask
for cur brothers going into the field. They
are to be the strong which Furnishes
assassinS They to be the mailed fist
which strikes in amongst them. They are
to stand up with the sword in their hands
for our most sacred possessions. So we
will accompany them with prayers. out
onto the heaVing waves. on their marches.
into the roar of the battle and into the
peacefulness Of the hospitals; Will pray %
God that they may stand at their posts Ike
men, that they may fight their battles cour-
ageously and heroically. that they may.
bear their wounds bravely and calmly, that
God may give thise who die uder fire a
blessed end and the reward of faithfulnesS---
in short, that He may make the warriors
heroes and the heroes Victers, and then
bring them home to the land of their faith
ers. with the laurels round their puggarees
and the medals on their breasts -t
In his concluding prayer the emperor
said: 80
Lord our God. we trust in Thee. Lead
Thou US n the battle. We boast, Lord,
that Thou wilt help us. and in thy name we
unroll the banner Lord we will not leave
Thee; then wilt Thou bless us. Amen"