Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-21
BISHOPS ISSUE
CALL FOR PRAYET
Chief Pastors Of Methodist Church
Appeal to Members Throughout
World to Ask for Peace.
MATERIAL WEALTH REAL CAUSE

half Of the bishops Of the Methodist
Episcopal church, Bishop Earl Grams
ton Of Washington made public today
a special "csll 20 prayer" appointed
TO be read in all Methodist churches
Not once a day only nor merely
when convenient. but in our every
thought Of God let Che
cry Of our hearts incessantly ascend
for the peace Of Europe and the
world" says the appeal.
The text OF the call follows:
In the divine ordering OF events 1t
has been given to American Methodism
10 develop and occupy the world-psrish
claimed by the daring faith OF John
Wesley when Methodlsts were . despised
people. The Methodist Episcopal church,
now firmly planted on every continent
OF the globe. must therefore recognize
at this crucial period In human affairs
its honorable and responsible relation 10
all races and conditions OF mankind. The
tenure OF its own spiritual life and leader
ship is at stake in lie attitude toward this
sacred obligation. From tho beginning
Methodism has conceived Of the king
dom Of God az a universal brotherhood
founded I'm the spirit and teachings Of
Jesus Christ, with God as One Father.
Love as the supreme law. and all people
and peoples eligible on equal terms TO all
its benefits for time and eternity What
ever obscures this vision OF the king
dom OF God bars the way 10 its glorious
realisation. The prayer. Thy Kingdom
Come has therefore ever been the first
petition on all humIn tongues conse-
Grated by the hallowing Of the Fathers
name But now. to the horror OF angels
ana OF men, tho vision IL 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
GOD eilenced IN the councils OF the EN-.
Uttered nations Europe Ia engulfed In
unuttersble woe and the world is filled
with an agony OF dread. christian
soldiers are daily passing in multitudes
10 iudgnlent with the blood Of fellow
chrIstlsns on their hands. on every
wind the walls Of widowed mothers and
orphaned children arc mingled with the
groans ef mangied and dying men
M.sersal wealth Back of e AT
Under such conditions your ohiet pas
tore can he no longer silent. nor can they
yoeet their duty by 9 perfunc;osy ex-
narration to formal prayers for divine
,uterposition. Not until we realize that
beneath all that appears. this war with
its awful carnage u but struggle Tor
commercial supremacy can We unoer-
stand how alien to hereditary dynaaues
,s the thought OF the universal brother
hood OF man. Every tradition and every
instinct OF imperialism IL IN constant
friction with the rule of Christ. The
,esloussss and hAtreds Of kingr and poo-
pies are not horn In heaven. Let victory
re.t where Il may after millions Of brave
hearts have ceased 20 beat, tho vassaiage
OF human souls to material wealth.
wealth ana power viii remain the SURE
harbinrcr OF other wars. OF increasing
deadiIness as auborned science adds 20
the rnachinery Of destruction. unless God
shall nightly intervene by unseen forces.
whose strateeiea we may not discern but
whose existence and efficiency We dare
not doubt. what we DO know Il that
willing. loving. obodlent hearts are the
conductors of these divine forces In
human affairs There arc enough prayins
souls In America TO call down a truce
on every battle front n once they felt
the agony of 'ChFists intercession. That
our country la a. yet free from the mad
ness Of strife should the more move ~
70 importunate and increasing petition
that God viii make Ills voice TO be
everywhere heard again on land and sea
Only thus at such time can we witness
our faith In God and our love for men.
Only thus can We restrain among our own
people the latent spirit Of war that u
already conjurins every untoward incl
dent abroad into an intended insult 10
our flag. Only thus can we subdue tbs
rising resentment Of our own hearts
against unjust fOrelgn criticism OF QUA
nation at thls crisis IN its history. :,
tbs Spirit OF our Lord pleads with u
by every consideration OF peace at home
as web IS Of humanity the world over. ID
follow Him into GethBemane OF prevaillns
prayer. Somewhere the song OF the an.
EeIic host must stin be heard. Some
where the sun OF peace must continus
"a shine. while Europe Il IN eclipse. From
somewhere must blow the klRdiy cur
rents that shall cool the fever of hat,
and revenso that IL consuming our broth
era beyond the sea.
let Prayer Ne UaeeasiaG.
commissioned me ne their voice OF tn
church 70 call every member OF our com
munion to sympathetic fellowship will
the Saviour OF men in His unoeasinl
intercessions with the Father In behai
OF His orring children. and In the sooth
ina OF the ansered hearts Of men int
patience and compassion toward all thei
neighbors. TO the end that the rulers an
Peoples DON al war may erase 70 kin
and learn 10 love az ehildEsn Of ths on
Father In heaven.
met once day ONLY. nor merely whs
convenient but In our every thought o
God. In every pang that comes with lid
ings OF fresh horrors. in every seers
prayer for SELF and home and country
a. we'll a. In every public service. ever
session % sunday school and Epvort
league. alone or In companies. let the CT
OF our hearts necessarily ascend for IN
peace Of Europe ana the world. Il
prayer be added 20 prayer and petition
he multiplied until their volume OF fait
and fervor. mingling with like ineens
rising from the affairs OF all the churches
shall fill the sky and charge all the Ovei
banging atmosphere with love and peac
and good viii. 20 be waited by the con
passionate currents that Flow ever froi
CAD Icsrfnar Laarf a., fha h..tf... A