Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-21

earnest Christian people alike upon
the nations needs and upon heavens
help. As a method of spiritualizing
and eXalting and increasing patriot
ism, nothing finer could be devised.
This prayer-chain calls attention
anew to the unique power, and essen
tial solidarity, of the church people
in our American life. Grave moments
like those through which the country
has of recent days been passing, al
ways link the twin thoughts of re-
ligion and patriotism. The funda-
mentally spiritual character of Amer
lea shines forth. This is a God-fear-
ing nation.
Preachers and religious leaders
come to new leadership in such a time
as this. Every pulpit in the land
rings with the solemn aspects of 10y
atty to the ideals of America. People
70 to church more generally than
usual at a time of national danger.
The mood of patriotism merges read
lily into that of spirituality The
church is given a rare opportunity to
set forth the nobler ideals of the ma
TONS duty.
The President as Churchman
Especially quick and responsive
have been the churches to President
Wilson's leadership in this hour of
gravity because they have all along
regarded him as peculiarly their rep
resentative. His ideals are distinct
lively those of the church people. He
is Presbyterian elder, the son of
distinguished leader in the Southern
Presbyterian Church. He has been
throughout his life better known as
churchman than as a politician. He
has made more. addresses upon re-
ligious subjects than upon political.
Before he was known to the country
at large he had a real leadership in
the Sunday school and Christian En-
! deavor movement. To this day he has
fewer politicians and more church.
men among his intimate counselors
than any other chief executive of the
United States.
All this has. to a degree equaled
by the case of no other President in
! the nations history, assured Presi-
dent Wilson the sympathetic interest
| of the churches OF the country, and
/ given him at this time the active sup
| port of all religious leaders. And it is
/ not to be forgotten that, after all. the
! Christian church has the most com
plete machinery for dissemination of
! opinion that exists in America.
A New Kind of Patriotism
This tremendous Christian propa-
| ganda must be borne in mind in any
| endeavor to interpret the present
/ Sldle Oh american opinion. Inc no
! table absence of hysteria and ranting
! jingoism in this country, following the
| sinking of the Lusitania. may in part
| be accounted for by the fact that
throughout all communions, during
the past decade, there has been a
systematic cultivation of what may
be called Christian internationalism.
In particular the men of the churches
have been led to think of America s
| unique mission as a world power. The
seriousness of the responsibilities in
volved has been so steadily stressed.
in pulpit, laymen's conventions and
church press that powerful element
of our national life have been pre-
pared for the present crisis.
I The reaches even into the Orient
of Americas duty as custodian of in
ternational justice and brotherhood
have taken a powerful hold upon the
mind of Christian men. A new fac
tor in national life has been created
, Men who think to express their pa.
triotism by a secret league of prayer
for President and country are a force
to be reckoned with.
THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.