Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-28
WORLD LIVES TOO
FAST APPROACHES
IMPORTANT CRISIS
Minister, in Sermon, Declares
Only Divine Intervention
Can Avert Catastrophe.

The ~1ooseness of religious ties among
all nations, together with the ever
increasing restlessness caused by the
strain of living under present condi-
tons and the growth OF anarchy are
fast bringing or a worlds crisis, de-
clared the Rev. W. T. s. Lumbar, pas
tor Of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church,
in his sermon yesterday. Such q cri-
sis, said the preacher, can only be
averted by the most coneummate hui
man wisdom M divine Intervention.
The Rev. Mr. Lumbar took for his
text:
Luke 21:xxv., "And upon the earth
distress of nations, with p~erplexities,''
and said:
"The above words are not at all unfit
ting to describe the present condition
OF things, ven II they were not intend
ed to apply to these days. We ought
ever to. bear In mind that prophecy
may have more han one fulhllment.
There may be a progressive unfolding
Of a prophetic announcement of the
Scriptures.
Great Changes Evident.
Great changes have been going on
the past few years. 1t is doubtless true
that the last fifty years have witnessed
greater Announcements along nearly
every line of human growth han any
five centuries preceding. One has only
TO glance backward and mentally re-
call that state of business and society a
few years ago and what It Is now. to
be convinced of this. Sudden move
ments of a widespread character must
| irtrn1,.o1 thn alarnAnt ~ ,,oN4f rrIa
breaking OF a dam, the wild fury OF
flames, like those Of yesterday, the
fierce wrath OF a great storm. the on
ward march of a vast army; these all
beget great perils which may cause
great destruction. None the less Is 1t
true that sudden mental and moral
movements. executed on a large scale,
portend accompanying disaster.
The tremendous achievements of the
past, along all material lines. have
created a materialistic and irreligious
spirit that is widespread and danger
GUS. , Never before have so many been
Influenced by what Is visible as now.
Multitudes profess to believe in no God
who IL not concrete and visible.
Nothing is worth while unless 1t pays
in dollars and cents. High ideals and
high living are discounted.
Again the terrific pace that has
been set Is causing such a strain on
human strength as to appal even he
stoutest hearted. We are scarcely ad-
justed to one new condition of society.
or some new toy of science, before an
other takes its place. Body. mind and
soul are kept at a tension. The strain
continues night and day. Men are ask
Ing: How long can it be continued?
Cannot withstand Strain.
"The pace set and the strain SO
caused unite to create a restlessness
that OF itself Is sufficient to usher In
a catastrophe whose ~shuddering tre-
mors shall be felt around the world.
Let the nerve strain n hysteria of
the individual be widespread enough
and there will be such a clash among
the. nations as no human power can
stay. No claim Of humanity and no
%selfshness Of financial greed will be
potent enough to Withstand it.
Our most careful observers and
thinkers concede this. In the days of
the French revolution 1t was France
alone that was whirled into the mad
vortex of national hysteria; today
every so-called civilized nation is
crowding on steam to the danger
point and increasing the swift pace
until 1t approaches frenzy. There Is
distress Of nations, with p~erplexity. In
dividuals, communities and almost en-
tire nations are loosening all religious
ties; the growth Of that form Of social
ism that is akin TO anarchy, in that It
would sever all recognized legal au-
thority; the cry of the hungry for
bread and Of the impoverished for bet
ter and more work; the insane greed Of
capital for more worlds to conquer and
kingdoms to subdue; all these things
and more in no uncertain
tones that we are approaching a
worlds crisis which can be averted only
by divine Intervention"