Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-04
Easter and the Great War

a MOTHER anniversary Of the death and
a resurrection Of Jesus Christ has come
1t is one of the most fateful casters in his
tory. Thousands of men are dying daily in
the greatest of wars, and the hope of life in
those who are about TO die centers in Him
whose victory over death this day COM
memorates.
This is the place to remember that the at
titude of thinking men towards the survival
of the soul has changed. 1t was not many
years ago that materialism held the world Of
scholarship in its grip. Men hoped for con-
scious existence after DEATH but hoped against
hope. Science appeared to controvert the
belief. But we begin to understand now the
immateriality OF the material, and that the
same universe may include the truths Of
science and the immortality OF man. In
some vague and hcsitating way scientists have
been experimenting with the evidence which
may confirm the hope of mankind Spiritual
ism has become force to be considered
There is no longer the angry dogmatism Of
the scientist denying the possibility of sur
vival.
And with this change in feeling towards
science has come alteration in the thought
of Christ. The old rationaistic idea, once
SO prevalent. that Jesus was but a man.
though the wisest and best Of men, seems now
old-fashioned and puerile. Not in this easy
way may the Man of Calvary be explained.
The more we study His life and works and
realize the transcendent beauty of His
thought, the easier it is for us to place con-
hdence in those histories of Him We call the
Gospels Human experience has produced no
fellow Of Jesus Of Nazareth. After 1900
years He still stands out the worlds su-
preme mystery And so to-day we are glad
and wear flowers in token of our faith in
the amending life.
Christianity has been reproached for fail
ing to prevent the great war. Ex-President
Eliot, Of Harvard, has declared that the
existence of the war proves the failure of
Christianity. But similar charge might be
brought against Christianity for every war
that has occurred in Europe since Constantine
the Great established the Christian religion
In the Roman Empire AS matter of fact
the very bringing of charge which has not
been brought before is a proof of the more
spiritual sense in which the world now looks
upon religion. Never until now has any great
body of people, any large part Of nation,
considered war as incompatible with Chris
tianity. The feeling is new.
Before this there have been thousands and
millions Of Christians III every European
country, but they have been individual Chris
tians. and their belief and practice have not
touched such things as international politics
and war. There never has been such thing
as a Christian nation. Nations practically
without exception have acted as purely and
wholly pagan. seeking their own advantage
without regard for others.
Christianity has been overshadowed by this
national selfshness God has always been
fervently appealed to by both bclligerents as
the Lord OF Hosts and as "Our God" a
tribal deity bound TO favor His own particu-
lar people, whatever the merits of the contest
God has always been thought of as an intense
partisan of one side or the other in national
or civil conflict
We have changed. For the first time we
think OF God as n being above war and alb
horrent Of it; approving the rage and vio-
lence of neither side We think of war as
being in its essence ungodly. And this is
a good sign 1t shows that Christians are
no longer mere number of unrelated indi-
viduals. In some dim way mass conscience
is being born.