El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-21
Text Second Timothy, iti'5: 'Hold-
Ing n form of gOdIiness but having
denied the power thereof"

~ TEXT has its setting in a
M passage which prophesies griev-
Gus times. Departing from his
usual tone of optimism, the apostle pre-
sents pen picture of personal immor-
alties which hardly seem possible of
realization. Following the rendering OF
the passage as it appears in modern
translation, 1t reads: BE sure of this,
that IN the last days difficult times
viii come. People win be selfish, mer-
cenary' Doastful, naughty and bias
phemous. They will be disObedient tc
thelr parents. They will be ungratefui,
impure, incapable of affection, merci
less, slanderous, wanting in self con-
troi' brutal, careless Of the rignt'
Ireacherous, reckless and puffed up
with pride. They will love pleasure
more than they love God: and, while
they retain the outward form of re-
nglon, they will refuse to allow IL to
InLiuence them. Turn your back on
such men as these
GrievOus Times Are Upon Us.
1t Is well, usually, to avoid the ten
dency 10 find in ones own times the
complete answer to prophetic utter
ances, especially if they are found in
the apocalyptic writings of either the
old testament or the new.
We are not dealing now, however,
with dreams or visions, but with
sober delineaatiOn of life in some time
future to the. apostle, and no one can
witness world conditions as they ap-
pear today without feeling that griev-
Gus times are upon US. At any rate,
the passage, however applicable II may
be to other times, is not an inapt char
acterization Of present day world con-
Until a few months ago the christian
nations were feeling pretty well pleased
with themselves. They were prosper
Gus, busy, hopeful; they pointed with
pride to their Industries, their culture
and their religious institutions. sud
denly, however, and with a shock that
We are still feeling, we were aroused
from our placid cOntentment by tae
tramp tramp tramp OF vast armies
Overspreading the fields of christian
Europe and leaving devastation and
ruin in their wake.
It is not surprising that people
everywhere asked in astonishment
Has christianity failed; has christian
civilization broken DOWN." 1t is not
surprising that many lost hope, and
felt their faith giving way We nave
all been deeply moved by the uneN-
pected turn of events and the pessimistic
tone has been much in evidence. As
the weeks and the months have passed
nothing has occurred to relieve our
somber feelings. On the contrary, the
outlook grows even more gloomy ana
we hardly know what to say or how to
adjust ourselves to the facts as they
appear.
Responsibility For the War
The first effort was to locate the re-
sponsibility for the war. But n this
effort we have met serious problems.
There were occasions enough, out TO
find the cause of the war has seemed
difficult indeed. Gradually, however,
we are being disillusioned and are be-
ginning to see that back of the several
occasions which have been repeatedly
pointed to, back indeed of the vast war
equipment of the several nations IN
vOlved is a hydra-headed monster NOT
mike the one the apostle has here
presented, and there has come to many
of us the conviction that, while pro-
Tossing to be christian, we have not
been christian, but pagan in our po-
iitica1 commerciaF and social life. The
statement seems drastic and some lao
doubt. will feel a source OF resentment
at its announcement, but on sober