New-York tribune., 1914-11-27
WAR AN IMPULSE
FOR DEMOCRACY
DR.. Manning and Many
Others Take Great Con-
f1iCt for Text.
NOT ALL AGREE
AS TO THE PRESS
Rev. J. II. Holmes Sounds Warn.
ing Against Arguments of
American JingOeS.

The mightiest impulse toward democ-
racy that the world has yet known and
IA far-reaching renewal Of religion Will
come from the great war. according to
the Rev. William r. Manning, who
preached his Thanksgiving sermon in
Trinity Church yesterday morning. Dr.
Manning, in addition, gave high praise
30 the American press for expressing
its judgment on the war "fearlessly
and fairly and, in some instances, with
q moral power which could hardly have
been eXcelled.'
During these past months | have
rcad editorials ~ some Of our leading
papers when might with greatest profit
and benefit have been preached as ser
mons in any pulpit in the land he
said. There must be those who hon
estly differ from the point Of view
taken, but | think that all must feel
that in dealing with the war our papers
have as a whole been actuated by the
desire to Judge fairly and by high and
disinterested motives. And that is all
we could ask of them.
II think we ought 20 give thanks for
the unparalleled opportunity now given
US as a nation TO be Of service to the
world. Never before has there been any
situation in which the rest of the
world occupied such q relation 10 any
one nation. was so ready to put its
trust in that nation. The world is going
to look as never before toward those
great ideals of brotherhood and free
dom and self-government which our
nation IS seeking to eXemplify.
There is coming out of this upheaval
the mightest impulse toward democ-
racy in all history, and may we be
worthy Of the opportunity for moral
and spiritual leadership which this sit
uation presents.
Some of US were needing a lesson.
Frivoity. thoughtless self-indulgence
and indifference TO high ideals IN some
quarters have gone too far. The lesson
has come. and the stern message of the
war is arousing many to new realiza-
tion of the meaning Of life.
at is producing a quiet but far
reaching renewal Of religion; we can
not now feel that everything in this
life is quiet and secure. 1t is less easy
just now to ignore Cod
"There is more talk of brotherly love
since the war broke out than ever be-
fore, and less of it, declared the Rev.
John D.. Roach at the annual memorial
mass Of the Catholic Benevolent Legion
yesterday. Father Roach said there
{ .uld be no true love without religion,
and that lack of true religion was re-
sponsible for the present situation in
Europe and for the bitter partisanship
NV manifested in this country.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Silverman, rabbi
of Temple Emanuel, Fifth av. and ADD
L 4 1
The attempt on & G part of some
countries Of Europe to WELD an in
fuence here for partisanship is unwise
on the one side will call forth influence
on the other. The press. which is TO a
great measure the moulder Of public
opinion. should reflect the neutrality
declared by President Wilson, but it
doesn't. 1t reports colored war stories,
tinged with its own particular bias
In ST. Andrews Church, Harlem, the
Rev. Dr.. Van de Water, the rector, de-
MED that the European war was an
arraignment Of Christianity. eng
land" he said, twas a great deal better
because of the War Of the Revolution.
II will be better because of this great
war. We shall Danish by it all as
sumption of superiority. The world
will see that one part has no business
to lord it over another pat. Il will
put an end TO the time when Chris
tians, prOfessed followers OF Christ.
will take guns and shoot each other.
Above all, it will bring 10 an end all
claims that we can do as seems best TO
our national advantage, and then in
sist that God is on our side"
Unitarians held union service in
All Souls Church, at Fourth av., at 20th
81. The preacher was the Rev. John
Haynes Holmes, Of the Church Of the
Messiah, who said in part:
"It is obvious that there are certain
basic cause of the pres Mt war, from
which the United States is absolutely
and, we may hope, permanently re-
leased. The dangerous Vaccinations
Of secret diplomacy, the immoral obli-
ga ions of entangling alliances, the con-
ficting ambitions of world empire, the
lust Of kings, the tyranny Of autOc-
racies all these, which had a larger
or smaller part in precipitating the
present horror, are unknown in our
American democracy. Surely Ameri-
cans have something 10 be thankful for
this day.
zone cause still remains 70 be men
toned, and that is the craze Of mill
tarism. one more RESPONSIBLE than any
other for the great war. But already
/ false prophets are everywhere arising
/ TO warn US that we also must arm, and
/ thus be prepared for our turn in the
/ bloody cockpit.
Never was there spoken a ladder
word OF counsel than this. Never was
| there a more shameless betrayal Of
| truth and love. lie is traitor, not
merely to his countrymen, but also TO
/ his God, who advises America at this
/ hour 10 increase her armaments. To
do so means one thing that war, such
as Europe il now suffering, will surely
come to US. sooner or later. II We
would be secure from all such indie
scribable disaster We must abandon re-
lance upon force keep army and navy
alike at the very minimum, and prac-
tise in our relations with mankind
Justice. mercy and good faith. The
I Church to-day can do 20 better work
than TO rebuke and silence those who
,,c,ld raise the cry, TO armS!'"