The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-10-09
THOUSANDS OFFER
PEACE PRAYERS
Petitions for Guidance Of Ameri-
cans Also Made.
MANY SERMONS PREACHED
Hears Prayer That United States May
BE Instrumental In Restoring
Peace-Last OF Wars,
Bryan Hopes.

Washington, D. c. Prayers for
peace in Europe arose from all parts
of the United States Sunday In &C
cordance with President Wilson's
proclamation. Clergymen Of all
denominations read the Presidents
proclamation, itself q fe-vent peace
prayer, and congregations gathered to
single peace hymns and take part In
peace services.
The President himself attended Cen
trail Presbyterian Church here and
heard the Rev. James H. Taylor pray
that the United States might be in
strumental in restoring peace to Eu-
rope and that Mr. Wilson might be
given wisdom and strength in his
mediation proposals. The President
was accompanied by Secretary and
Mrs. McAdoo and several White
House guests.
IN his sermon the Rev. Mr. Taylor
declared that the war In Europe meant
not the breaking down of Christianity
but the failure Of some people to fol
low Christian principles. He added
that permanent peace would come
when the nations of the world turned
more to prayer. People who pray"
he said, get better perspective and
forget their passions and jealousies."
Meeting AT Peace Cross.
Special peace services were held at
Mount ST. Adams, the site of the
Protestant Episcopal Cathedral of SIS.
Peter and Paul. Near the peace cross.
erected after the Spanish-American
War, several thousand persons attend
ed the outdoor meeting. Many mem
bers of Congress and Government off,
Gals were present and the Marine
Band furnished the music. Bishop
Alfred Harding of Washington parti--
cipated in the services.
Last OF Wars, Bryan Hopes.
New York-Hope that the Euro
pean war will be the last object lesson
of the horrors of strife, and that after
it all the efforts of man will be de-
voted to production rather than de-
struction, was expressed by Secretary
of State Bryan and Oscar S. Strauss,
former Secretary of Commerce and
Labor, at the special Peace Day serv-
ice held at Carnegie Hail.
The meeting was one of many held
in this city In accordance with Presi-
dent Wilson's recent proclamation
designating Sunday as day of prayer
for peace The large hall was filed
and hundreds of persons had to be
turned away.
To-day, when number of nations,
all our friends, have been drawn into
the vortex of war;" said Secretary
Bryan, "our first duty is to use such
influence as we may have to hasten
the return of peace. There will be
ample time afterward to discuss ways
and means for preventing future ap-
peals to arms.
in this age, our interests are so en-
twined with the interests of those who
reside in other lands that no nation
can live or die unto itself alone. If
we had no higher reason for encourag-
ing conditions conducive to peace. we
should find ample justification in the
fact that the burdens of war are no
longer borne entirely by those who are
direct participants in it. Today every
neutral nation finds itself greatly en-
barrassed by the disturbance which
the European war has wrought in
every department of human activity"
Has Faith In Mediation.
Oscar Strauss expressed hope that
mediation would eventually settle the
European struggle.
"a month ago." he said. Secretary
Bryan, under the direction of the
President, encouraged by statement
made by an Ambassador of one of the
powers, communicated informally with
the other powers as to whether they
were ready to accept the Presidents
tender of good Offices. While the time
is not yet ripe for the definite discus
sion of the subject, we may be justified
in hoping these communications have
already had the good result of lifting
the latch on the door of mediation, so
that, without the initiative OF either
side, at the first opportunity that door
may readily be thrown open.'