The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-11-10
GREAT WAR
Subject Of Sermon By Rev,
Clcmmer

Those who braved the elements yes
terday, and attended the vesper ser.
vice at the Presbyterian church, heard
a remarkable sermon on "The Great
War" by Rev. Clemmer. The sermon
was carefully written throughout, be
ing logical, clear cut, and forceful,
making 1t very evident to all that the
speaker had lavished time on the pro.
ductioD. During the course Of his adj
dress. the speaker commended Presi.
dent Wilson, for declaring and main
tanning the neutrality Of the United
States, and for setting aside a day OF
prayer that war might cease and peace
be the blessing of every land. "A day
of prayer is fitting expression" said
the speaker, "of our faith in God, His
oversight in the affairs of men and ma.
tions, His guiding hand in times of
war as we'll as in times OF peace" He
declared that the war was selfish, un-
justifiable, and cruel, and hence we, as
a supposedly Christian nation, did not
care to, and should not becom. in
with that expressed abroad as follows:
Peace Is visionary scheme" Peace
breeds decadence," "Internationa arbi-
tration is mere foolishness, for the
weaker nations have no tight to have
rights, no right to exist" He sail we
shall maintain our neutrality IN action,
b,,t in thought we can rot do so. for
God has given us the power OF iudg
nont, and expects us to use it and ev-
cry day necessity demands its use. He
said, as thinking men, we, o. mere
necessity, Judge concerning tho justice
of such acts, as the destroying Of ca
thedrals, the dropping o. bombs on ci-
ties, with women and children within
the range of their destruct We power,
the demanding of peace loving, home
abiding men that they leave home for
the battle front against their will, the
declaring Of war by few men. Who
know they need not fight. but compel
3'her innocent ones to do the fighting
The speaker said, however, that con
dc hnation of war, means ctndemna-
lion of the warning spirit, and should
mean as reflex influence ridding of
our souls of the warning spirit. He
spoke of the awful havoc wrought by
war, the history of the wo ID, holding
the story of $500 wars, tl.e destruction
of seven billions of people, surpassing
far the loss in every other way as bv
floods, earthquakes, tornad ,es, etc.
The speaker said the war had a
three fold cause and hence he suggest
ed three fold lesson. "In the first
place." the speaker said, war is caused
by warning spirit within the soul, |
and he who says ''I'll get even with
him." were he king would probably |
declare a war, and hence he sh, uld rid |
his soul of that "get even" spirit IL |
the second place, the nations have pre-
pared for war, and long since Paul |
said, Whatsoever a man sws that |
shall he also reap" and the nations,
sowing the war spirit, are nov reaping |
the battle field, and fat graveyard"
Hence" said the speaker, ''let US as !
nation, place no cannon between lis |
and Canada along the border line, and !
let us as individuals prepare for peace |
within our souls with our feiiowmen."
Tho cpaolrar oot1 Urrho fbird oa,,yo >f /
war is in that few men have had the |
deciding voice as to whether or not |
there should be a war, and hence DEM
Ocracies must be the future form Of |
government" In conclusion, the |
speaker affirmed his faith in God hav-
ing hand in this great conflict, by |
way of ruling over the war, which man
declared, and that some day He would |
bring out of it all an everlasting peace. |
AS very fitting conclusion TO it all. |
Rev. Clemmer related very beautiful |
little dream, in which he was far out |
at sea, on an ocean liner, which formed
part of great circle of ocean lin |
ers a hundred miles in circumference. |
Every ship was filled with happy peo-
pie. Within were gathered the war /
vessels of all the world and all the |
implements of war Of every nation. An |
angelic choir sang Peace ca earth,
good will to man." All on board the
vessels Joined in the song. the song
ceased, and the Master spoke. and this |
is what He said, Here ends war.
Henceforth the nations shall be at |
peace" And then all the great vessels |
were swallowed up and the sea was as
smooth as glass.
cNnrLEoA nNNrnBc MEET