The Washington herald., 1914-08-24
DECRY
WAR IN EUROPE
Nations Have Forgotten
Cod" Says Rev. DR.. H. B.
Smith, in Sermon.
AMBITION Is THE CAUSE
Catholic Clergy Also Comment on
Great Conflict as Bringing About
Death of the Pope.

The height of civilization is impotent
| to protect the race against devastating
wars brought on by ambition in high
places. The terrible European war en-
phasizes this fact.
This Is the plain inference Of a strong
sermon preached in the New York Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church yesterday by
Rev. Dr. Herbert Booth Smith. OF Knox
vile, Tenn.
The trouble is that Europe has for
gotten God" said DR.. Smith.
Reference Made to Pope.
War sermons were delivered in most
OF the Protestant and Catholic pulpits in
Washington yesterday. Catholic ser
mons dealt mostly with the death Of the
pontff which has been attributed 10 his
grief over war stricken Europe.
The wars Of ambition fought by Cae-
sar. Charlemague. Napoleon and other
great conquorers were touced on as be-
ing analogous to some extent with the
present war.
Turn TO the chronicles OF nations and
see what human ambition has done" DR..
Smith said. Caesar was ambitious. and
so was Charlemagne. and so was Ma
pOleon-and where are their empires to-
day? Listen to Napoleon as he thinks
aloud in mediation by the sea in lonely
rlDdr anu near MN dS ne says IN slO-
stance, Caesar and Charlemagne and I
have founded empires on force, and they
are no more. Jesus Christ has founded
an empire on love, and today there are
millions ready to die for His name Ma
pOleon spoke truly. for the sober judg-
ment OF historians is that his fall was
.occasioned by his Unsuitable ambition.
Lesson that Europe Teaches.
The one outstanding lesson of this
awful European war to me is this: That
civilization apart from Christianity will
never stand. There is no saving power
in civilization itself. for the first Ciyiiiza-
tiOn OF the world was founded by men
who had gone out from the presence o;
the Lord. And there is nothing in our
skysCrapers and submarines and subways
and wireless telcZTaphs and aeroplanes
that will keep men il the hour OF storm
and stress.
For proof Of this look at Europe to-
day. Who would have thought that the
Europe Of the twentieth century. with all
its ententes and driebunds and The
Hague tribunals and peace palaces; that
this Europe would split itself up into
lot of war dogs rushing at each others
teeth. while the very stones in the Peace
Palace laugh in derision at what fools
these mortals be-
Call upon your modern inventions to
stop the war-they only make II worse.
Summon your scientists and philosophers
to put an end TO it and they only cry:
We are helpless I'll tell you what's the
matter. Europe has forgotten God"
Rev. Father p. c. Gavin. rector OF the
Shrine Of the Sacred Heart spoke on
Pope Plus with personal "reminiscences.
showing his utter simplicity and holiness
OF spirit.
Masses This Morning.
This morning at 10 o'clock high masses
of requiem will be sung simultaneously /
for the repose of the dead pontiff's soul. !
At st. Matthews Catholic Church the
official memorial mass of Washington !
will he sung. with the apostolic delegate !
as celebrant. The Diplomatic Corps, con- I
tanning a representative from each Euro /
pean country. will join the clergy in /.
paying the last homage to the dead Pope. I,
The Holy Rosary italian Church. with /
the pastor. Rev. Father Nicholas De /
Carlo. celebrant, will offer a mass at 81
o'clock.
Rev. Henry A. Brown. Of the Wash ;
ington Cathedral. spoke on Peace at ,
Mount St Alban yesterday afternoon. .
Rev. Mr.. Brown gave an interesting and /
instructive argument on what peace
means to the few countries at peace now
and what t. means to those at warfare ,
The Nobler Warfare" was the sub I