Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-10-20
Gods Plan-but Mems Work

Speaking before a church club in Port
land the other night, Professor Z. ID,
Tubbs of Bates College, a thorough
scholar and An exceedingly entertaining
lecturer, gave some views Of the present
war which may set US all to thinking
whether our own views are not tinctured
by prejudice rather than being entirely
fair. II he is correctly reported, how
ever, not all his sentiments will meet
with universal acceptance. He seems to
base his observations on the postulate
that war is q necessity, and that the only
safety is in each nation being stronger
Ran any other nation In it's armament.
Such has been the general sentiment
among the "civilized" nations for the
past generation. but 1t is getting pretty
bad shock in this war.
Finally Professor Tubbs puts the re-
sponsibility on God in this fashion, a.
reported BY the Portland Press:
'Speaking in response to . question
a. to the morality Of some of the acts
of the war Prof Tubbs asked what
men thought of the morality Of the
Galveston tidal wave, or of the volcanic
eruption in Martinique few years ago,
or OF any of the great plaques that have
devastated the world in ages past. They
all came from Gods hand. God permits
war because in some way it fits in with
His plan OF the universe. Everything
that 10 of value has come about through
struggle and combat or fighting or war,
whichever you please TO call it. II takes
war to bring out great men because
there 10 no other pursuit that brings out
In such intense form so many of the hu'
man faculties. A man who deplores
war as dreadful calamity confesses his
doubt in God"
The reporter may not have got an &C
curate abstract Of Professor Tubs re-
marks, as Il is a difficult task TO con-
dense into few sentences the gist OF an
hours address. But without doubt The
speaker feels safe TO leave the issue
In Gods hand.
Now there is no purpose here to enter
into that most futile thing, Astrological
discussion. In saying that all things dit
In with Gods plan Professor Tubbs
makes an expression Of the highest faith
of which man is capable.
But the trouble with his statement is,
II sounds too much like that lazy fatalis'
tic doctrine, "Whatever 10, is right"
In its worst Interpretation, which frees
men from any responsibility for seeing
that wrong things shall be set right.
II goes only part way. Mans faith can
20 no higher than believing that every.
thing Is part Of Gods plan, but it should
also include the belief that Gods plan is
carried out through men. IL this Is not
20, for what purpose were men created?
That God should have plan to carry
out In which men have no part except IA
passive spectators is inconceivable. II
men had nothing to do but TO leave
the matter In Gods hands they would
not now be living 10 houses, or using
electricity, or sailing the ocean in steam
ships, or eradicating diseases, or doing
thousands Of other things that make the
earth better place for men 10 live in.
Is IL conceivable that Gods plan should
allow men to improve their material con-
dition, and leave them without RESPONSE
bility for the correction of the moral
evils which exist in the world?
II was part of Gods plan that thou
sands OF black men and women should
be kidnapped in Africa and brought to
this country and sold, and preachers de.
Tended human slavery a. divine institu.
ton, but that didn't make slavery right,
and didn't relieve men of the RESPONSE
bility for seeing that 1t was abolished.
This war Is part Of Gods plan, it Is
our right and privilege to believe, but
that doesn't relieve tho people Of the
world from the duty of trying to find
some way Of settling differences other
than the horrible misuse of God-given
powers in the destruction of life and
property in war.
Il Is we'll to hold that high faith that
recognizes everything As part OF Gods
plants the only thing that makes life
worth living, whether We realize 1t or
not. But don't lose sight OF the other
essential element of that faitb-that
Gods plan Is carried out through men,
and in no other way, and We can not es'
cape our responsibility for our part In it.