Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-12-01

wherewith Chris. hath made US free.
Faith in Christ and in His kind of
life, will uphold us in the great ex-
pertinent of self surrender and SER
vice. But there must be no reserva-
tion in faith. In all else there may
be compromises, but here The choice
is central and it must be all or moth
ing. To be moved by fear and to
make use of tear as a means of ag-
gression or defense means abandon
ment of Christ's ways. To deliber-
ately give up the way of love, and
lall back upon coercion is to fOrsake
Christ, and to become pagan, for it
is confession, that there are Occa-
SONS when His way and His spirit
will not work. Its possible that Is
what we do when We urge military
training, and grea er preparation for
national defense We do not say there
is no need of preparation, but we do
say it should be done in God S way.
we look across the water and we
see christian men killing one anoth-
er. What does that terrible conflict
mean? 1t means just this the
failure of christians to realize chris
tianity. The nation tha- is truly
christian will not seek peace by
avoiding trouble, bur by using its re-
sources to promote the welfare OF its
enemies. on he sure confidence that
self sacrifice is rot sucidzl-but con-
structive. We ought to feel very
thankful today that our land is not
suffering from the ravages of war.
And as l said great oppor unities
and great duties come to us now,
which if we embrace, would make
through which God shines to en-
tighten other nations
1t is probably true that the Unitel
States never has been so devoid of
friends among the nations as she is
today. The other nations engaged
in life and death struggle, feel that
the Uni ed States owes each some
thing more than neutrality. We
earnestly desire to be the friend Of
each, even when unfriendly acts
acts that amaze us By their savergy-
compel us 20 express our friendship
by exclamations Of horror. In this
country we all have more to be
thankful for than we imagine. Again
do you know of single person into
whom you would be willing to be
transformed II such were possible.
" ouid you be willing to give up ev-
erything associated with your home,
your childhood, yourself, for anyone
else? What you are those assOcia-
tions made you. and what you are
you would not exchange with any
friend. God gave you the capacity
and capahilitys of moulding that Cir
be II of birth. OF educa-
tion or of training. into the charac.
ter you have, into the man you are.
FHe prepared the soil and we planted
THE seed, and my character and
yours Are the harvest. And SO many
fof us; are now looking forward to tha;
glorious Harves Home, 'wireif the
grain shall be gathered into one gar
ner. That is the fulfillment of which
life here is but the type We know
that the reality of Heaven will be a
sta'e of everlasting thankfulness and
that state of thankfulness is just
what want our service to be this
morning-hot merely time OF
thanksgiving but feeling of thank
fulness; feeling the thrObs Of the
Divine Heart, beating In union with
the throb OF our hearts. Then this
service will be an uplift, deepening
of our spiritual life. You remember
the ory of the ten lepers, who heal
ed of their disease, only one return
ed to give thanks. We often pray
for some cherished wish, God grants
our request. Let me ask. We're yol
that one leper, or we're you among
the nine. God heard your prayer and
answered It. He can hear your praise
and thanksgiving. May we never for
get to return thanks to God for al
the comforts and benefits we enjoy
Let rs nay our VOWS unto the mos
highest"