The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-28
WORLD UNCHR|ST|AN
DECLARES MINISTER
On. MACLACHLAN ASKS AND AN
swERs QUESTIONS RAISED
BY WAR.
CARNEGIE AND PEACE
HAS NO RIGHT TO DENOUNCE WAR
OF NATIONS WHEN HE
MADE FORTUNE
BY WAR.

"Mr. Carnegie has little right to de-
nounce the war of nations. when he
made his own fortune by war" de-
clared Rev. H. d. G. Maclachlan last
night. In q sermon at the Seventh
Street Christian Church. In the sight
Of God there Is little difference be-
tween the sack of Louyain and the
Christian sentiment is at work in both.
The fittest survived IN both. The wo-
men ana children suffered in both"
3 christmas and War" was the SUBJ
.ject Of the sermon and rs Christianity
Failure?" was the question asked
and answered. Declaring that the
gravity Of the issue cannot be over
stated. DR.. Maclachlan asked:
what is the meaning of 1t all?
Did Christ die in vain? ?"
After exclaiming What mockery
of words" over the prayers raised to
the Prince of Peace by the combat
ants, over Christmas on the battle
fields" over THE song of the angels
over the trenches" the minister earn
estly insisted that his question did not
partake OF irreverence, were not the
aippant sneers OF an unbeliever, but
the sincere seeking after the truth OF
those who feel as II they had been
startled out Of a dream Of false
security"
Has Not Failed.
DR.. MAclachlan answered his own
question by declaring that Christianity
has not failed because the world Is not
Christian.
s.The ministers OF the peace con-
future from trying to convert the
chanceliories Of Europe to trying to
convert their own members When
they say force Is no argument let
them not forget that the man who lis
compelled TO take what wages are
offered him or see his wife and chill
dren stArve has no freedom of con-
tract, but has succumbed to the argu-
ment OF force. Just like little Belgium.
When they say might does not make
right let them have the courage to
criticize the modern doctrine of sue
cess which Is simply the glorification
OF the strongest under another name.
We cry out against Nietsche as the
prophet OF all evil: but Nietsche was
only a little more logical than you
or me He dared to carry the doctrine
ultimate conclusion. while we make
use OF II 50 long as we need II In our
private affairs and then shrek in
borrow when he tells US what II really
means"
.The Remedy Simple.
The remedy Tor X ali, me Preacher
declared, II not peace conferences. nor
theories Of disarmament, but merely
ito believe the sermon on the Mount >"
The alternatives we have to choose
between are the alternative of Force
and Love We have not yet definitely
chosen. We have been essaying the
impossible task OF serving God and
mammcn. We have been singing
hymns and writing books and building
churches In praise Of Love. and then
claspinx hands with Force as the real
friend and helper and saviour Of our
lives We have been calling Christ
Lord, Lord and In the very same
breath saying that the precepts OF the
sermon on the Mount are impossible.
Impossible! Is not that sort OF
blasphemy7 i have known Of ner
prosecuting their fellowman because
he was not sound SO they said, In the
divinity Of Christ and then turn away
and say: 'Jesus did not mean what
ne said II any man smite thee etc.
A poor divinity surely that does not
know its own mind.
s'Besides, has the world ever tried
TO 1--we on the plan Of Christ? Have
we any right to say it is impossible
until we have tried It? I think not.
And one day, predict, the world will
try 1t and then the wonder will be that
We had ever tried anything else.