The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-15


War with Russia-The Issue, Says
Rev. a. VI. Williams, Is Shall the
East he Russianfzed or Civilized.
God, in Both War and Fire, Works
According to Law.
For the Lord God OmnIpOtent
Rcigneth.-ReV. 1876.
1T is a species of inhdelity to re-
gard these material calamities as pun
ishment of sin. Some of our most pros
porous men are our greatest rascals.
Some of our sweetest saints seriously
suffer-
In his discussion of God in Fire and
War" at Trinity Church last night,
| Rev. A. M. Williams, the pastor,
touched on the war in the Orient, ex-
pressed his sympathy for Japan and
| drew lessons from the Baltimore fire.
A large congregation heard the adj
dress and the regular sermon. The adj
dress was based on the biblical pas
sage quoted above.
THE mind of the civilized world has
been fixed on two great calamities
! during the last week, the Baltimore
fire and the Russo-Japanese war"
said Mr.. Williams. "They suggest the
! question: Has God anything to do with
these events? In answer, consider the
following principles commonly accept
ed by intelligent Christians, and capa-
BILE of demonstration.
God is present in this world. He is
in all, as well as over all things. He
| &c tranGPpn6Pnf
God is the omnipotent, all-wise ruler of
| our world as part of His universe.
God rules by law. There is supreme
/ purpose in His government. All things
are working toward the accomplish
| ment of that purpose, under conditions
| imposed by Him. Finite man can no
more interpret Gods infinite plan than
the peasants of Japan can figure out
Ito's tactics. Man magnifies his nature
| by trusting God. Great harm has
come from constituted interpre-
| ters dogmatizing on Gods unrevealed
purposes in current events. Man is
narrow. The biggest are apt to be
men of one idea.
Is Justified in Doubling.
''When men declare that the Balti-
more fire is a manifestation of punitive
wrath 1 am justified in doubling. Their
assertion raises more doubt than their
wisdom can satisfy. God preserve us
from the folly of predicting physical
disaster as. a result of moral iniquity.
| Gods lawis whatsoever a man sows
that he will reap. If he sows sin he will
reap soul suffering. Soul suffering is
much worse than nerve suffering or
property suffering.
"It is a species of infidelity to regard
| these material calamities as punish
ment of sin. Some of the most pros
porous men are our greatest rascals.
Some of the sweetest saints seriously
| suffer.
God rules through law. Two differ
ent classes of law are involved in the
calamties of the past week-the Balti-
more fire is in the physical realm. Fire,
combustible materials, winds under
concomitant and favorable conditions,
| produced this great cOn1lagration.
MANS sin appears only in the short
sightedness of the concentration of
highly explosive materials in the center
of a great city. God speaks this in the
tragedy. 1t is not do not steal; do no
murder; do not gamble; do not get
drunk do not swear; keep the Sabbath.
| No, it is: Do not store highly combusti-
BILE materials in places exposed, and
exposing property as well as human
life. Every great city ought to hear
that warning and govern itself accord
ingly.
1.-THE Russo-Japanese War belongs to
|
! human freedom. Man has power to Sc
lect a course of action, but God holds
| him responsible His punishment is
adapted to the violation of these laws
and is manifested in the terrible conse-
| quences which flow naturally from dis
obedience. This law applies to nations
| as we'll as individuals.
"'War is hell said Sherman. 1t is
| always calamity. It's misery is Gods
| method of furnishing the wrong doing
of nations.
Some Wars Justifable.
'Is war ever justifiable? Wars of de-
| Tense, wars of humanity, wars made
| necessary in human progress may be
said to be deplorable necessities I'M
der present conditions of mankind. 1t
is the duty of every Christian, how
ever, by prayer, purpose and effort,
adapted to his place, to avert war.
Every time man should seek to bring
in the era of universal peace.
rs the present war justifiable? With
out undertaking to answer the ques-
ton directly, l am satisfied we should
heartily sympathize with Japan. Rus
sia's duplcity and gradual encroach-
ment on Japan must be denounced as
belonging to the lowest grade of ma
tional conduct. Less than ten years
ago she united with other nations to
rob Japan of the fruits of her victory
over China. She refused to allow ia
pan to hold Port Arthur because it
would endanger the territorial integrity
of China. Now she holds Port Ar
thur fortified as an Oriental Gibraltar
"Such perfidy deserves punishment.
Progress among the nations also is
with the success of Japan. The issue
is: Shall the East be Russianized or
civilized?
But some say Why sympathize
with an agnostic against a Christian
nation? Japan stands for the results
of Christianity, while Russia claims
only the name. Among these results
are religious freedom, constitutional
government, fraternity of the nations,
the rights of man as man.
"Give me the real Esau and not the
mere hairy-handed professor. Give me
essential Christianity under any name
rather than pretended religion under
the best name"
A Palatial Train, Indeed.
The famous New York and Florida