The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-10
President Talks To
Church Conference
Says No Man Is Wise Enough to
Pass Judgment on European
War

| Washington, April SIN a speech
before the Maryland annual confer
ence of the Methodist Protestant
church in session here tonight, Pres
ldent Wilson said it was his belief
that no man was wise enough to pro
nounce judgment on the European
war at this time.
But he added, 1--WE can all hold.
our spirits in readiness to accept the
truth when it is revealed to us in the
outcome of this titanic struggle"
The president reminded the dele
| gates that in transacting the business
of their church they were like the
men in charge of the nations gov
eminent, in reality handling the
phases of the day. :"
You are handling the affairs of the
church as they stand under the treat
ment of your generations" he said
Back of them lie the eternal prin-
ciples which you are trying to exem
plify in the life OF the work, back
of Us here in the government lie the
eternal principles Of justice and right
eousness, which, in my conviction at
any rate, We do not derive from our.
selves but from the same source from
which great church derives its in
spiration and authority.
Days Of Perplexity
1T seemed to me that it was worth
saying something like this: These are
the days of very great perplexity
when a great cloud of trouble hangs
and broods over the greater part of
the world. 1t seems as IL the great
blind material forces had been re
leased which had for long been held
in leash and restraint. Yet, and I'M
derneath 1t, you can see the strong
impulses Of great ideals. 1t would be
impossible for men to go through
what men are going through on the
battlefelds of Europe and struggle
through the present dark night of
their terrible struggle, If 1t were not
that they saw, or thought that they
saw, the broadening or light where
the morning should come up and be.
lieved that they were standing each
on his side Of the contest for some
eternal principle of right. ,,,
Spiritual Forces Behind,
Then, all about them, all about
us, there sits the silent, waiting tri-
bunal which Is going to utter ulti
mate judgment upon this struggle,
the great tribunal OF the opinion Of
the world; and l fancy / see, hope
that see, pray that 1t may be that
I do truly see, great spiritual forces
lying waiting for the outcome of this
thing to assert themselves, and as.
sorting themselves even now, to en-
tighten our judgment and steady our
spirits. No man Is wise enough to
pronounce judgment, but We can all
hold our spirits in readiness to ac-
cept the truth when 1t dawns on us
and is revealed to us in the outcome
of this titanic struggle.
"You will see that 1t Is only In
such general terms that one can
speak in the midst of confused
world, because, as l have already
said, no man has the key to this con.
fusion. No man can see the outcome
but every man can keep his own spir,
1t prepared to contribute to the net
result when the outcome displays it.
self.
What Washington Is
THAT is the reason | said to q
body similar to this, only few
months ago, that | welcomed the at
mosphere which these solemn assess
ments Of the human spirit bring to
Washington. For this is the place
OF assessment. In one sense Wash
ington is not even a part of the Uni
ted States. 1t is where everybody else
comes and sooner or later speaks
his mind about the United States and
about many outlying parts of the
world. Mr.. Bryan and | are con
stantly auditors to what | dare say
is large part of the opinion of the
world; to Judge by the time it takes
to express It ! think very large
part and to judge by the variety anC
oontrariety Of 1t dare say it Is 9
fair cross sestion of what men ar,
thinking about"
Secretary of State Bryan followed
the president with an address OF wei
come to the visiting clergy. His re
marks were confined strictly to {
discussion OF "the three great rela
tionships," which he characterised al
government, society and religion O,
mans relation to God" Great ant
important as all these relationships
were, Mr.. Bryan said he believed re
ligion was most important to tho
welfare of a nation.
II