The Washington times., 1913-03-31
POWER0F: :GODSEEN,
! IN WESTERN FLOODS
Capital Pastors Draw Lessons
in Human Sympathy From
Widespread Disaster.

catastrophe which has laid waste the
middle West, Washington ministers
yesterday took as the subject for their
discourses the floods and the destruc-
ton of life and property which has
shocked the whole world. There was a
general expression of sympathy for
the sufferers, an inquiry into the
inability to cope with such situations.
One great service performed by the
Mood, said the speakers, was the dem
onstration of general sympathy and
generous spirit--shown when II came
TO helping the sufferers.
OF the many conclusion to be drawn
from the sermons, the most significant
are that the flood sufferers were not
punished because of sin; that God is
mightier than many waters; that man
is responsible for the flood suffering;
that man cannot protect himself; that
the innocent suffer with the guilty,
and that mans sympathy for man is
inspiring.
Speaking Of the significance of the
food, the Rev. NJ. V. Tudor declared
that IL II served as nothing else it
should serve as a warning to those
who live without the fear of God in
their hearts. The power Of the waters
to destroy. he argued, is less than the
power Of God to wreak vengeance on
those who live sinfully and that God
will not always stay his hand is GER
tain.
DR.. Tudor declared that the people Of
Dayton, Columbus, and the other towns
in the path of the flood were not sin
ners above all because If their sins had
been the reason for their suffering the
people of Washington would have long
since suffered too. He shaved, how
ever, that wickedness could not live
forever, and, taking the Roman Empire
as an example, declared that the Sab
bath breaking vices and. greed of the
people would surely invoke the judg-
ment Of God.
Prevents Greater Evil.
THE Floods Lift Up Their Voices
Of Many Waters" was the subject for
At the New Church last night.
Under the providence of God, even
evil and disaster are permitted, but only
prevented" said DR.. Sewell. 'and all
are ruled with the view to greater good
IN the far-on end and result"
"Paufs Philosophy of Life" In con-
West was the subject of the discourse
by the Rev. W. W., McMaster, of the
First Baptist Church, yesterday. After
summarizing the effects of the disaster
which presents itself is. How can one
and merciful God?
Some would declare that God had
nothing to do with it; that it was purely
the result of natural forces working ac-
cprding to well-knewn scientific and
nxed laws. The better reason, however.
1s that II is the natural law and the
orderly and consistent way in which
God has chosen to act
"God Is Not Cruel"
The sufferings Of the week does not
mean that God is cruel" declared DR..
]. W. Frizzell. at Ingram Memorial |
Church. 1T simply means that we have |
not mastered the problem of protecting |
ourselves. Twice as many die each Gay
rs have been taken by the flood. and
We think nothing of 1t. Thousands we're
drowned before man gained his mastery
Of the ocean. and thousands will be
killed before he gains full mastery OF
the air.
Mans sympathy for man N distress
IL one of the most beautiful things In
ike" declared the Rev. J. J. Muir, in
the Temple Baptist Church yesterday.
II rejoice that. in such an age of mate
rialism, when mans inhumanity to man
9s 80 talked of, that the blessed ties of
brotherhood found such splendid ex-
preston in the remarkable flow of prac-
fical sympathy"
Many have faced calamity and death
die in the consciousness of Gods pres
ence. II is to be feared that We do not
get all the benefit we should from cur
religion. .~-.s-.-
: Al ffie services at the NJ Street Me-
mortal Church last night, A. G. Daniels.
president of the democratic Seventh
Day Aventists, made an address on the
fulfillment of the prophecy of the sec
ond coming of Christ.
"The-ereat second Adventist move
ment of the preaching of the Gospel to
every nation has the widest scope OF
any religious movement ever set on
foot" he said. II have travelled all over
the world. from the poles TO the equator.
and from the east to the west, and have
found missionaries who teach the sec
ond coming of Christ in all these places
who stay year after year doing this
mighty. work. Eighteen hundred years
ago II was prophesied that in the last
days the Gospel would be preached in
every nation, in every tongue, and to
every people
We must conclude by this story Of
fhe progress of success that il Is
genuine fulfillment of this prophecy"