Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-03
A Paradox Which the Rev. Mr..
Guthrie Finds Is Not Alto
gether Unreasonable.
MEMORIAL SUNDAY SERVICE
Preacher Declares Tint in Their High
est Forms There Must ne Some
Justification for the Survival
Of These Two Apparently
Opposing Spirits.

Church. attended by the members of
Stannard Post. G. A. r.. the Woman's
Relief Corps. Sons Of Veterans. United
Spanish American war Veterans. Com
pany NJ, and kindred organizations. The
service was also largely attended by the
public. the edifice being crowded. The
members Of the G.. A. r. were escorted
to the church from their hall by Com
pany NJ. V. n. G.
The church was appropriately decorat-
ed with the national coors. the altar
being draped with a large flag, flag
also forming a background behind the
altar. The sermon was delivered by the
pastor. the Rev. f. G.. Guthrie, his sub
ject being The Spirit Of War and the
SpirI, Of Peace" Prayer was offered by
tie Re-. J. f. Goodrich. Music was rem
dercd by double quartette of male
voices. composed Of Mr.. Blake. Mr.. Cobb,
G. r. Bell. Mr.. Roberts, Mr.. Letting
well. Or. Dalton and r. NJ Bell, the lat
ter being soliet
Mr.. Guthres sermon was n very able
one and was as follows:
The words from which ! wish to adj
dress YOU to-nigN are the Both and 3Sth
verses Of the c2nd chapter of Luke He
that hath none. let him sell his cloak and
buy SWORD. . and they said,
LORD behold. here are two swords, and
He said unto them 1t Is enough"
] wait to SPEAK to You on the spirit
OF war and the spirit Of peace. It has
been remarked that the same Hebrew
nation tina, has given us the most fervid
expressions OF the mora, glory Of war on
behalf of nationa! patriotism has given
US also the most vivid prophecy ofthe
ending OF oil nationa, divisions and~Phe
perfect triumph of the spirit Of peace,
when the people. In isaiah; words,
shall beat their swords into plowshares
ard their spears into pruning hooks,
nation shall. not III. up sword against
nation. neither shall they learn war any
more" And again. in the teachings OF
Him whom the world knows as the
Prince of Peace. the same strange para
dox appears of the blending In the one
supreme and universal life Of these two
seemingly opposed and contradictory
spirits. the spirit of war and the spirit Of
peace. Those who think Of Him only as
gentle and meek and mild have surely
never heard those strong and stirring
words OF His Think not that am, come
TO send peace on earth: come not to
send peace. but a sword" Nor these
again of our text. He that hath none
let him sell his cloak and buy sword -
And. once more, in the history OF the
nations and of the church. these two
spirits have lived and reigncd side by
side. Not once. but often, has tho mill
tary conQueror taken MS his banner the
red cross upon the white folds OF the
standard of the Prince of Peace, and not
once but often has an army been led to
battle by bishop or priest of the Church
Of Cod. And. in our own day, the para
dox of tho twentieth century Is claimed
to be that while on the one hand the
world IL seen to be In an extraordinarily
warliko mood, that dominates the new
world and the old the Orient and the
Occident and that everywhere tbs arma-
ments of the nations ashore and afloat
arc becoming vaster and ever vaster, on
the other hand there is not a head
crowned or uncrowned Of any nation.
nor a statesman OF any mark In Christen-
dom or the world to-day, but is an avow.
ed and sincere believer in. and an ardent
cha NIPPON Of peace.
Now II cannot be that this paradox Is
altogether unreasonable II cannot be
that these two spirits are but survivals
o. two utterly alien instincts existing
side by side because OF the powerlessness
OF tho ono to overcome the other, or they
would never have received the sanction
OF our Lord. IT must he that in their
fichest forms and expressions. In their
Ultimate purposes. they have some deer
identity. soma common end. some justin.
cation for the survival of both. They
raid 70 Jesus behold. here are two
fwords." and I think without undue vIo-
lntio, OF Ills meaning we may take those
two swords as emblcms. the one Of war
ma the other Of peace. when We hear
Finn answer ut Is enough"
Let us ask frst. therefore, What Is
N" nature Of the spirit Of war as 1t 1.
found in Its highest form? Let me take
this incident. with which am familiar
from the account OF Sir Charles Napier's
war against the robber tribes OF north
cir India. "A detachment Of troops was
marching along a valley. the cliffs over
hanging which were crested by the enc
my. sergeant with II men CHANGED tc
Necorne separated from the rest by TAX
irP the wrong side of the ravne. which
they expected soon to terminate; bu,
which suddenly deepened into an impas
sable chasm. The off1cer In command
signalled to the party an order to return
They mistook the signal for command
tn charge, the brave fellows answered
with a cheer and charged. At the sum.
nit of the steep mountain was n triang
ular platform defended by breastwork
behind which were 10 Of the foe. On the,
went charging up one Of these fearful
FAITHS. II against 70 The contest coult
not long be doubtful with such odds. On,
nfter another they fell, six upon tn,
spot, tho remainder hurled backwards
hut not TIL they had slain nearly twic,
tttir own number.
There is a custom, we are tolc
amongst the hilmen that. when a grea
chleftain Of their own falls In battle, hi!
wrist is bound with a thread OF red OF
green: the red denotlng the highest rank
According to custom they stripped thu
dead and threw their bodies over thu
rrcc'p'ce When their comrades came W
they found their corpses stark naked anc
gashed but round the wrist of ever,
soldier was twined the red thread OF
tonor!"
In what lies the greatness OF this story
OF war? Is ii not in this that we have
here revealed to us how near the high.
est OF which VIC are capable Is to ever,
human spirit, and how under the great
breath Of the passion for a cause vastl,
wider than the concerns Of our individ
uhl lives the spirit OF the commones 81
clay Of our humanity can he lifted &c
deeds Of surprising nob,cness Is II rot
tLessight Of the love Of country and the