Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-20

! washington, D. c., May 1s.-ln be- |
~. ~ the bishops of the Methodist !
Tniscopal Church, Bishop Earl Gran |
s+on of Washington made public to-
'day a special Call to Prayer" ap-
no<sed to be read in all the Metho-
~. churches.
3,o. once day only, nor merely
when convenient. but in our every
thought Of God let the cry OF
our hearts necessarily ascend for the
peace Of Europe and the world" says
the appeal.
The text Of the call is as follows:
.In the divine ordering Of events 1t
has been given to American Method
ism TO develop and occupy the world
iparsh claimed by the daring faith OF
Z John Wesley when Methodists were a
despised people. The Methodist Epis-
ecopal Church. now firmly planted on
fevery continent of the globe, must
therefore recognize at this crucial pc
riod in human affairs her honorable
and responsible relation to all races
and conditions OF mankind. The ten
ure Of her own spiritual life and lead
ership is at stake in her attitude TO-
! ward this sacred obligation From
the beginning Methodism has con-
ceived of the kingdom Of God as
universal brotherhood founded in the
spirit and teachings OF Jesus Christ.
with God as One Father. Love as the
supreme Law. and all people and peo-
pies eligible on equal terms to all its
. benefits or time and eternity. What
ever obscures this vision Of the king
Z IL 80 y IN <n Sy-5-
Gus realization. The prayer, Thy
Kingdom Come has therefore ever
been the first petition on all human
tongues consecrated by the hallowing
Of the Fathers name. But now, to
the horror OF angels and Of men. the
vision is for the time lost by the one
continent that has been beyond all
others sanctified by the blood of
Christian martyrs. and the voice of
sGod Silenced in the councils of the
sembittered nations. Europe is engulfed
in unutterable woe and the world is
FILLED with an agony of dread. Chris
s1ian soldiers are daily passing in null
titudes to Judgment with the blood of
fellow Christians on their hands. On
every wind the walls of widowed
mothers and orphaned children are
mingled with the groans of mangled
Iand dying men.
Under such conditions your chief
spastors can be no longer silent, nor
scan they meet their duty by a per-
sfunctory exhortation to formal pray
sers for divine interposition. Not until
we realize that beneath all that ap-
pears. this war with It's awful earn
sage is but struggle for commercial
supremacy. can we understand how
fallen to hereditary dynasties is the
Thought Of the universal brother
every instinct of Imperialism is in
constant friction with the rule OF
Christ The jealousies and hatreds of
Kings and peoples are not born in
kheeesen Let victory rest where it
|nEy after millions of brave hearts
kNs ceased to beat, the vassalage of
Human souls to material wealth,
wealth and power will remain the
/ sure harbinger of other wars, of in
creasing deadliness as suborned sci
ence adds to the machinery of de-
Estruction, unless God shall nightly in
teFvene by unseen forces, whose STRAIT
egies we may not discern but whose
Existence and efficiency we dare not
d0nbt. What we do know is that will
-. loving, obedient hearts are the
Eckn1auctors Of these divine forces in
hu1an. affairs. There are enough
" III souls in America to call down
| b tru1e a every battle front II once
,1hey "a 3o11e agony Of Christlike in
tsrea That our country is as yet
the madness OF strife
k0uld & IRE move us to importu-
nAte ana GScreasing petition that God
WIN make Hl6 voice to be everywhere
heart again on land and sea. Only
nus ~ such At time can We witness
faith In God and our love for men.
y thus can we restrain among
own people the latent spirit
ears that Is already conjuring every
Reward incident abroad into an in
ended Insult to our flag. Only thus
an we subdue the rising resentment
BIZ our own hearts against unjust
Foreign criticism OF our nation at this
<crists In its history. So the Spirit OF
our Lord pleads with us by every
consideration of peace at home, as
Fwell as OF humanity the world over,
Ito follow Him into Gethsemane Of
prevailing prayer. Somewhere the
bong Of the angelic host must still
be heard. Some where the sun Of
peace must continue to shine, while
Europe is in eclipse. From some
Ewhere must blow the kindly currents
that shall cool the fever Of hate and
Revenge that is consuming our BROTH
rs beyond the sea.
Therefore, your chief pastors have
Commissioned me as their voice OF the
EChurch. to call every member OF our
Communion to sympathetic fellowship
rith the Savior Of men in His unceas-
ng intercessions with the Father in
ehalf OF His erring children, and In
he soothing OF the angered hearts OF
s1nen into patience and compassion to-
Bward all their neighbors. to the end
that the rulers and peoples now at
war may cease to kill, and learn to
love as children Of the Ono Father In
RHeaven.
mot once day only. nor merely
when convenient but In our every
Thought of GOD. in every pang that
ZONES with tidings Of fresh horrors, in
livery secret prayer for self and home
md country, as well AZ IN every pub
1rvice. every session Of Sunday
and Epworth League alone or
Ofnpanies. let the cry OF our hearts
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