Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-26

and obeyed the demands OF moral and
spiritual laws. If the nations In Eu-
rope had these years past thought
peace, talked peace, organized Tor
peace and prepared for 1t. they would
have had peace, and would have put
themselves In harmony with the truer
conceptions of God, who desires
peace and good will among men.
These nations would have become
greater agencies in the historical
trend onward and upward.
On the contrary these nations
thought OF war, dreamed of war. saw
war coming, organized and prepared
for war and talked necessarily about
1t, and they got Just what they pre-
pared for, or in other words, prayed
for. There Is spiritual and religious
crisis as well as q moral and political
crisis. The only way that crisis at
first sight regarded as stumbling
block may become a stepping stone
to a greater plane of power and life
is through the Transforming source or
Christian love. There are men who
have merely superficial knowledge
of events In human history and ex-
perience who are wont at the present
time to say In an offhand manner
that talk of peace and the coming
triumphant power of Christian love Is
an idle dream" They are blinded
by the spectacular and dramatic play
of the elements of any crisis so that
they have no vision that takes hold
of the things beyond that will assert
themselves the more powerfully when
their turn shall como.
No Fear of Results.
Every crisis of worldwide signffi-
canoe induces an apprehension Of i'm
pending change that will affect the
life of man In all ranges of his ac-
tivities, religious and moral. political
and social, and in the industrial. legal
and judicial structure. If. however,
the moral sense and spiritual aspira-
ton of a people are lively and domi-
nant there need be no fear as to re-
suits. 1t Ia more important that
moral power have sway than that the
fortune of this or that nation shall
be In the ascendant. In fact, the na"
ton whose course Of life Ia strtutIy
scrupuious in regard to tts moral acts
has the surest guarantee OF peace
and perpetuity.
In the whole course onW&ru ana
upward the Christian church holds q
central and unique position: some
times men mistake a crisis In politi-
cal affairs, or O social upheaya1s aS
in some way likely TO overthrow the
church. Nothing of the sort can
overthrow an institution that has
weathered many storm ana h2%
come out OF 1t stronger than ever.
The difficulties accompanying crisis
and awakening apprehension are
caused by unabashed human nature
clearly manifesting Its most promi-
nent characteristics. II A Chris
tianity and the church that saves
the world from doing worse and In
ever melting 1t to be better ana 10
do better,
It is sometimes asked why the
Christian church does not grow 70
greater influence and power. so as to
stop these frequent crises In life.
The Christian church Is 80 growing
because the imminent spirit Of God
ia In her. There need be no disturb
ing fear on her account This immi-
nent spirit is steadily going on its
I way fashloning the life of humanity.
modifying customs, laws. moral and
religious convictions, and always on
the side of a higher spiritual life.
in as far as the cnurcn roposco IN
the peaceful atmosphere OF Gods
presence, she is bound to be the
spirituai director of the worlds af-
fairs. Religion is the most powerful
factor in welding the elements Of So
ciety into such form that eventually
1t may be called the kingdom OF God.
II this fact were more fully realized
by men generally they would see II
as their privilege to be allied with
the Christian church in advancing
the highest interests of human well
fare. The ranges OF human activi-
ties are still far behind the advance
made in the thought and conscience
of the church. The standard estab-
lished by Christianity Is the highest
found anywhere and II Is a privilege
TO be affiliated with the best
CI.ERlCxM