South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-20
PREPARED NESS
IS UNCHRISTIAN
Rev. H. B. HoStetter Declares
1t inconsistent With Teach
inqS of Prince of Peace.

THE Prince Of Peace" was the
theme Of Rev. Fl. y. Hostetter's ser
mon in the Westminster Presby-
terrain church yesterday morning his
discourse being based on Isaiah *
6. He shall be called the Prince Of
Peace"
mo sooner are these words utter
ed" said Mr.. Hostetter than we
think OF Europe and the war now
raging there How can we recon
cile that insane conflict between pro-
fessedly Christian nations with the
messionic prophecy concerning the
reign Of universal peace? Ten mil
lion men, armed with the most dead
ly weapons that human ingenuity
can devise. are working at nothing
else but the bloody business Of muir
dering each other. Thousands OF
happy homes are rent assunder.
Tens Of thousands Of brave men are
going down before the fierce hail
Of rapid fire guns and exploding
shells. Dying like beasts on the
field Of battle, they, with the last
expiring breath. are cursing the civ
ili-ation that has made them its
victims
In the light of such appalling
facts how can we speak Of the reign
Of the Prince Of Peace?
Whatever other truths are
emerging from the throes of his
torys greatest conflict. day by day
this conviction is deepening and
IL A., &
world has been plunged into this
war through violent disregard and
long continued antagonism TO the
teachings Of Christ. And nothing
less than the principles Of the gOs-
pei accepted and lived, can ever re-
store the nations from their present
horrors, and insure the establish
ment OF permanent peace.
For decades the heads Of those
nations have been sowing dragons
teeth. Bitterness has been instilled
into the children's blood. At home,
in school and in church they have
been taught to hate kindred nations,
and regard them with suspicion and
contempt. Could they reasonably
expect any other harvest?
The whole trend Of scripture
teaching is opposed to militaryism.
The most absorbing question before
the American people at this hour is
that Of preparedness. Most Of us
are made TO feel that. with the spirit
and attitude OF other nations what
II is, a certain amount Of additional
defense is necessary. il we are TO
safeguard our trust and make reg
nant our national ideals. Not boast
ingly. however. and in braggart
tones. but with tears and shame.
let us confess this sad necessity.
There is no blacker blot on our
modern thought and civilization. 1T
stigmatizes humanity
surely men Of vision, foreseeing
statemen and prophets. will now be-
gin. with renewed earnestness, to
pave the way for that glad day that
the Book OF Books foretells. The
day when nations shall beat their
swords into plowshares and their
spears into pruning hooks and learn
preparedness no more. Christianity
message is peace on earth, good
will to men Ii stands for concord.
brotherhood without bounds. The
application OF the principles Of the
gospel will bring the peace for
which we pray. Nothing else will.
All surface applications must fail
The remedy must go as deep as the
sinful heart o. man. Let us find
hope I'm the fact thai multitudes i'm
the stricken nations are seeing this
The churches Of Europe. for years
deserted. cold, ritualistIc. formal
have become houses of prayer
thronged by penitent. anxious thou
sands.
Note the verse Immediately fol-
lowing the text. OF the increase OF
His government and peace. there
shall be no end But il is govern
ment before peace. Only by bring
ing our lives into subsection to Him
can we have the blessings we seek. d
CunNIC DnIAJED OF DIM