The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-03-25
A NATION LAUNDERING
~ WILLIAM 7. ELLIS

oN eeesS
Most OF the dispatches from the
world war need interpretation: and
many careful students OF present his
tory are finding that the Bible 10 the
most Illuminating OF all books. II
reveals the principles WHICH are be-
Ing worked out In this greatest OF
human upheavals. The maps In the
backs OF our Bibles are the best TO
study IL We would understand pres
ent military operations In Bible
lands. Most significant OF all. how
ever, is the new light which the old
Bible throws upon the providences
in the progress Of events.
Bewilderment and confusion will
De the lot Of the layman who tries TO
master all the details OF the present
complicated world situation. One
clean trail through n all Is the
truth. which underlies the present
Sunday school lesson. that God deals
with nations as with men: and that
in the march OF mankind as q whole
His purposes are being revealed.
Even as IN the ancient history which
we have been studying for the pas;
quarter. we saw q nation led and de
Tended by an overruiing Providence.
so In the present upheaval OF society
we may discern even now the hand
CT the King OF kings. whose objective
Is the kingdom OF heaven on earth.
Lying on the surface OF the pres.
emit as OF the past. we may see the
proposition which Is presented as the
Lesson theme. namely. that Gods
mercy was shown 10 His disobedient
people. Old Israel needed first Of all
the mercy OF God. On Its merits II
was a failure. and had forfeited It's
right 10 exist. In its hour OF pride
u could have cried. with the poet OF
Queen victoria's Jubilee.
''The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings de
part.
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice.
A humble and q contrfte heart
Lord God OF Hosts. be with US yet.
Lest we forget-lest we forget
IF. drunk with sight OF power. We
loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee
in awe.
Such boastings As the Gentiies use,
Or lesser breeds without the
Lord God OF Hosts. be with IL ret.
Lest we forget-lest we forget"
There Was . Man
For three months the Sunday
schools have followed the deliver.
ences OF oft-slumping Israel through
the period Of the Judges. They have
studied the great figures OF Deborah
and Ruth and Hannah. who shine
with a new lustre In the light of the
days interest in feminism: the two
great priest-patriots. Eli and Samuel;
and the tall king. Saul. and the no
bier son. valiant Jonathan. The les
sons have been a succession Of char
acter studies.
Written plainly upon all these b.
ographies has been the truth that di-
vine providence and human person
ality are strangely intertvined. God
somehow does His work through
men and women who dare 20 be their
best selves. The rare courage Of
perfect self-abandonment" was given
by one observer as the secret OF Billy
Sundays pulpit power. He does let
himself 90 the limit for God. Given
man or woman who f. brave
enough 10 shake on the tramraels OF
conventionaiity. and 70 permit the
noblest powers 10 have frsest expires.
sion. and the result . sure "a affect
society profoundly. In our social
and national needs today We require
no other help this side the hvor OF
God. 80 greatly as devoted PERSONAL
ties. The cry which John T. Holland
once voiced still ascends:.
God give Us men, A time like this
demands
Strong minds. great hearts, true
faith and ready hands:
Men whom the lust Of ONCE does
not kill.
Men whom the spoils OF once can
not buy;
Men who possess opinion and a
VIII.
Men who have honor-nen who VIII
not lie;
Men who can stand before q dema-
gogue
And damn his treacherous batteries
without winking,
Tall men. suncrovned, who live
above the fog
In public duty and private think
ing"
When the People sIumped.
A drear monotony marked most OF
the quarters Sunday school lessons.
in that they recorded the everrecur.
ring religious lapses Of Israel Left
20 themselves. the people slumped
Into heathendom. They needed re-