Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-24

the belligerents officially Is. of coursA
one of strict neutrality; but the nress
of the country and the masses of the
people are overwhelmingly against
the German government. and strong
ly In favor of Great Britain ana
France. It is the consensus Of os,in-
ion here that this is not a PEOPLES
war, but primarily a war of govern
ments. So far no one seems to know
what 1t is all about. The paucitv of
news Is depressing. There is a fair
understanding of the position of
France and England Belgium eyokea
sympathy and enthusiastic approval:
but the silence of death seems to
cover the motives and purposes of the
other belligerents. England especial
~ mas made most favorable impress
sion upon American public opinion
The calm restraint and evident sense
OF moral obligation exhibited by the
British government struck a respon-
siye chords in this country. So FAR
the British have apparently made no
mistake from the point of view of
craftsmanship. They have accepted
burden forced upon them In a shirt
of fortitude and resolute adherence IN
duty which will become one of the
chief assets of the world.
My personal conviction is that this
war, with all the ruin and loss that
1t involves, will prove to be the he
ginning of a new age for mankind.
1t will advance democracy in demo-
cratic countries more than it has adj
vanced in their entire histories. Ev
the appalling waste of property and
the destruction of life; by the enor-
nous burden of debt that 1t will be-
queath to the nations; the people of
Ian rRffr(I II L
madness of war. The position of
womanhood will be improved. for
soon, above the roar of battle, we
shall hear the cry of the widow and
the fatherless in a more arresting
note than the voice of imperial COM
mand. believe this war is vista
ton Of Almighty God upon. the n.y.
pocrisy. greed, extravaganza and ir-
religion of modern civilization. HE
that stitch In the heavens shall
laugh-and vex them his sore dis
pleasure" THE wicked shall be
turned into hell. and all the nations
that forget Cod" Under the failing
of this universal disaster, the spirits
of men will turn from the sintoxica-
tionB OF materialism to contempla-
ton Of the deep spiritual and moral
realities of life. They will find that
man does not live by bread alone"
that the issues OF the ages are de-
termined In the spirits of men, and
that there cannot be a great growing
civilization without deep rootage be-
side the rivers of God. There will be
aroused In the reaction following this
struggle a new sense of brotherhood
among men. The senseless separa-
lions which flourish under the name
of religion will tend to disappear.
Humbled, purified, regenerated by
this baptism of eternal wrath the
souls of men will begin to realize
themselves, to seek the inner places
of safety and to attach themselves
to the fountains of power.
Meanwhile, the cross is heavy upon
the weary shoulders of a weary race.
Let us all pray that our hearts may
be strong to front the difficulties Of
the day, and be open to learn the les
son which God is writing across the
black heavens in letters of fire. Now
that the beautiful day of peace and
good will has been swallowed up In
the black night of hate and fear, we
realize what it means to be at peace
with our neighbor. When the morn
ing dawns, 1t will be the task of a
stricken, but still hopeful race, to
establish human fellowship upon a
deeper and diviner foundation, and to
assist in healing the hurt of the
world.-Rev. Charles A. Eaton, in the
Plainf1eld Press.