Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-31
Lessons Drawn from Disas.
trous Visitation Presented
by Washington Ministers.
CRY OF THE HELPLESS
FINDS READY RESPONSE
Remarkable Evidence of Prac.
ticaI Sympathy, Is the 0pin-
ion of One Clergyman.

iUtt VI OIIc OiCIyyIIIdiI.
Lessons taught by the Omaha cyclone
and the middle western floods were dwelt
on by a number of Washington pastors in
their sermons yesterday. They called at
tentiOn to the quick and ready relief af-
forded the sufferers as showing that hui
mainly is quick to respond to calls of
distress.
The spirit which caused so many to give
literally for the relief Of the Ohio flood
sufferers was praised by Rev. j. J. Muir
at the Temple Baptist Church.
Flood in some instances, fire i'm others,
desolate towns and cities causing the
loss of hundreds of lives. rendering thou
sands of our citizens homeless and de-
stroying property reaching up to the mil
lions of dollars said Rev. Muir. "Alas,
for those who suffered.
I'VE rejoice, however, that in this age
of materialism, when many like to talk
of mans inhumanity to man, the blessed
bonds OF brotherhood sound such splendid
expression in the remarkable gifts of
practical sympathy to our fellow-crea-
lures in their grief and want. The milk
of human kindness has not yet sOured,
and we are not yet disposed to deny cheer
reach our ears"
Calamity Theme.
THE Calamity in the Middle West
and st. PauIs Philosophy of Like" was
the subject of sermon delivered by
Rev. William w. McMaster at the
First Baptist Church yesterday.
Some would cut the Gordian Knot
and deny that God had aught to do
with the calamity" he said. 'They
would say that it was purely the result
OF natural forces working according to
we'll known scientific and fixed laws.
There is, however, another and better
view, which, to the careful student of
Scripture is alone admissible, and, &C
cording to which. what is known as
natural law is simply the orderly and
consistent way. in which God has
chosen to act.
Hence, what we call the work of
gravity is but an evidence Of one such
orderly way in which the Creator is
working. God, then, Is in the driving
storms and sweeping floods, but must
not be held accountable for suffering
and loss Of life, which is the result Of
mans failure to act in harmony with
Ing"
Lesson of the Disaster.
Rev Frank sewall of the New Church
delivered a sermon on the lessons
taught by the recent floods. taking for
his text THE Floods Lift Up Their
Voice-the Lord Is Mightier Than the
Noise of Many Waters" He said that
under the providence of God even evil
and disaster are permitted, but only. to
prevent greater disasters. We are ruled
with a view to the greater good in the
far-of, he said.
II ~
and of denial and above the emotions
OF sympathy and sorrow this voice of
the loving Father Of all is mighty and
is heard" he continued. 1.-The testimony
of the Lord is sure abiding forever
the only surety and consolation to which
man can reach
Sorrow and Sympathy.
Rev. w. V. Tudor, pastor of the Mount
Vernon Place M. E. Church., took the
Ohio foods as his text. He declared
that a wave of sorrow and sympathy
deep and wide as the overlooking
waters of the Miami and the Scioto riv-
ers" rolled over the entire country last
week.
Continuing, he said:
Suppose We that the Inhabitants Of
Dayton and Columbus and other towns
land because they suffered such
things? Guided by Jesus interpreta-
ton of God, we say nay, or Wash
ington city would be a choice bit for
the jaws Of the devouring deluge But
nevertheless, Jesus does give a con-
nectiOn between the judgments of God
and sinners, as in His parable im-le-
diately following, in his Improvement
Of the incident. Then after that thou
shall cut 1t down.. The Roman gem
eral Titus was Gods woodchopper
eventually cutting down Jerusalem.
God deals with nations. as the great
REVEALS have been national Pentecost
Germany. John Wesley's work, Eng
lish: John Knox in Scotland The
Roman empire fell after the perfect
term OF 700 years had been given it
after Christ; the proud Roman eagle
came rushing to the ground with an
arrow in its heart. Let America profit
by the example. The Sabbath break
ing vices and greed of the people may
effectually invoke the judgments Of
God"
Cyclone and Flood Visitation.
The cyclone and floods in the middle.
west do not mean that God is cruel, but
that we have not mastered the problem
of protection, according to Rev. w. J.
Frizzell, at the Ingram Memorial Church.
A number of lessons can be drawn from
the terrible catastrophes, he declared.
He continued:
Because accidents and disasters are SO