Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-12

began with devotional services, after
which the business OF the day was
transacted. At 10.15 Wesley j. Weir
Of Portland. general secretary Of the
State Sunday School Association, gave
an interesting brief address This
was followed by an address Of much
interest by Rev. A. W. Anthony, D. D..
who took for his subject Some Effects
Of the war on Missions" DR.. Anthony
spoke as follows:
Prof. Anthony's Address.
Prof A. W. Anthony spoke on the
effect of the present war on missions,
and in part said:
Many people think they have nothing
to do with foreign missions; but for
eign missions are part Of the inter
national brotherhood which has spread
so remarkably in the last quarter CEN
fury, and is affecting US all. Foreign
missions are the philanthropic and be-
nevolent aspect of international states
manship. They represent Christian
civilization distributing its own privi-
leges and blessings. All OF the world
is akin in the domain Of missions. To
the true missionary there is no foe. no
enemy. no stranger. His sympathies
and charities are universal.
The present European War occasions
some most disastrous effects, and
brings some beneficent results to the
cause of human welfare, judged from
the point of view of missions.
Among the disastrous effects the fol-
lowing must be recognized:
"a In some nations the missionary
enterprise has been absolutely para
lyzed Before the war Germany. for
example, had extensive missionary op-
erations in many lands. Now all mis-
sionary work under German auspices is
at a standstlll. In some stations Ger
man missionaries themselves were 80
suddenly cut off from home supplies
that they would have been in actual
restitution had not the missionaries
from other countries, stationed near
them, come to their relief. The mis-
sionary work Of France is less ex-
tensive That of England and Scot
land is far-reaching and important.
This, while not stopped, is nevertheless
impoverished. The resources of the
nations at war are Of course largely
withheld for the purposes of national
defense: and this stoppage of benevo-
lence is almost absolute on the part
Of Germany.
(2) Even in neutral nations benev-
olent gifts for Missionary objects were
seriously curtailed, particularly during
the first months Of the conflict. The
stock exchanges of the world were
closed: commerce was destroyed; trade
in all it's forms disorganized. No man
knew how his own possessions and in
vestments would be affected. Conditions
are better now; some men are actually
making money out Of the war; and are
in a better cotndition to give. But in
some instances longtime and reliable
supporters Of missions have been
obliged to cancel their benevolences 1
presume any missionary board could
name scores of generous givers who are
now unable to give as formerly, if they
car give at all. While those who are
profiting out of the war are, for the
most part, unaccustomed and indis-
posed to give.
80 The worst effect of the war is
its, incubation OF a Gospel of hate.
Songs of hate have been composed
Prejudice, bitterness, rancor, and vitu-
peration Of enemies are cultivated.
National barriers have been repaired
and built higher; and the very atmos-
phere has seemed to be charged with
bitterness and hatred. This is an aw-
full spirit to exist in the world. Were
it to prevail everywhere the very
foundations Of human society would
be undermined.
tD This war has made Christianity
appear to many as a failure. A news
paper cartoon short time ago repre-
scented the combatantS as individuals
fighting in the arena with their fists,
while in the grandstand sat a motley
company representing pagan nations
who were saying to each other. BE
hold how these Christians love one
another. Many men in our own coun-
try have been sore at heart as they
have acknowledged what seemed to
them to be the collapse of Christian
civilization.
But Christianity has not failed. No
nation, even the most Christian, is
wholly Christian. In Christian lands
militarism, and in some instances poll
tics. have been divorced from Chris
tianity; and the resulting militarism
and politics have been almost as pagan
as paganism itself. The principle that
might makes right" is not Christian:
the philosophy of materialsm is not
Christian; much Of the jingoism and
imperialism Of today, even though in
Christian land, is unChristian 1t is
these which have failed, and not Chris
tianity. The distinction between the
Christian part and the unChristian
part of what we term Christian civil
nzation is becoming apparent even to
pagans. Yet there is the disastrous
effect Of confused ideals, of adverse
criticism, and, in some cases, of blight
ing despair
90 In consequence Of the war inter-
course and communication amongst
men have been impeoed, if not indeed
entirely cut off. Sailings Of steamship
lines have been cancelled. The open
highway Of the ocean has been barred
and passage across it made perilous
Foreigners, resident in another nation.
have been called back to the homeland
Each nation tends now to become a
penthouse to its subjects; and put
them forth only as armed soldiers pre-
pared to kill.