Evening star., 1915-06-07
URGESU.S. BEPREPARED
TO DEFEND IT'S PEOPLE
Rev. DR.. c. Ernest Smith, at st.
Thomas P. E. Church, breaches
on Military Needs.
Supports Contention Of Army E1-
perts That America Should Be
Ready for Eventualities.

Preparations for war, from the re-
ligious point of view. was the subject
of the sermon by Rev. DR.. &. Ernest
Smith. at St. Thomas P. E. Church
yesterday morning. The text was taken
from Nehemiah. WIS. For the build
ers. every one had his sword girded 10y
his side, and so builded."
Introducing his discourse with a brief
synopsis of the life of the prophet Ne
hemiah. who was a cup-bearer to King
Artaxerxes of Babylon. and the labors
of the prophet for the upbuilding OF a
national defense. Rev. DR.. Smith said:
Modern armies are highly trained
bodies. commanded by technical spe-
cialists and using complicated modern
machinery. Doubtless in Nehemiah 8
time it was vastly different. But Ne
hemiah exercised the greatest wigs
lance. He did not listen to the mon
was no peace. He kept unbroken
watch: he gave the enemy no oppor-
tunity. Plainly he not genial
optimist. He knew that safety alone
existed in being thoroughly prepared
Touching briefly on the condition OF
world affairs at the time of Nehemiah
and calling attention to the fact that
the nations Of the then known world
were almost constantly engaged in
warrirg ono upon another. Rev. pr.
Smith continued:
Need for Defense.
I'm a similar way each nation of the
world is today engaged in establishing
itself moro firmly In the land Which
God has given 1t. America is no eN-
ception to the rule; she. too. Is working
out her destiny. To her God has said,
Walk through the land. in the length
of 1t and the breadth of it, for l will
give it unto thee Dangers threaten.
of course. As to whether these dan
the country is properly prepared to
meet them-these are political qhes-
tions which must be dealt with by the
statesmen Of the country and by the
heads of our army and navy.
THE pulpit is not the place for their
discussion; but this much even the
pulpit may say: Those best competent
to speak-our military and naval en-
perts. trained soldiers and sailors
tell us there is need for larger forces
and for greater watchfulness. Surely.
then. it is the part Of wisdom to listen
to the voice of those whose opinions
in this matter should count before that
of laymen.
"A Lord Roberts might raise his voice
and bid his countrymen read the signs
of the times which told that war was
coming daily nearer and nearer. and all
to no purpose. His fellow-countrymen
loved him. spoke kindly OF him; but
said he was getting old. was an alarm
list and a pessimist. and went their
way until the crash came.
Lusitania Attack Unbelievable.
"a great liner might be on the eve
of sailing and strange warnings might
be given-all to no purpose. The world
could not believe such a thing was
possible as that the Lusitania could
be attacked or come to harm.
This is no mere political question.
Far more is 1t a spiritual question.
Simply because this country Is Chris
pared for war. There are certain great
duties which appertain to 1t and which
1t cannot live up to IL 1t falls In this re-
spect. Just in proportion as war is
dreadful-as war Is heii-so. 1t is your
duty and mine to do all in our power
to avoid it.
''ery well; there is one way, and one
way only. that you can take in world
like this and subject to such
as obtain here. If you would
avoid war. resist the devil and he will
flee from you.
"A muli-millionaire who. having
spent most of his life gathering dollars
and turned philanthropist in his old age.
price, in 1909 issued a tract entitled
'Armaments and Their Results in which
he prescribed the following remedy for
war:
"The remedy: Recently delegates of
the eight naval powers-Germany,
France. Italy. Russia. Austria Hun
in London. unanimously
agreed to establish an international su-
preme court, to deliver final judgment
on all cases of marine captures. each
nation appointing one judge. To such
of the smaller nations as apply for ad
seven judges are to be ap-
pointed in turn, so that the great mari
time nations combined have always a
majority, which is common sense.
These same eight powers have only to
meet again and decree that hereafter
disputes between civilized nations shall
be settled in like manner Cor by arbi-
tration) and war becomes a thing of
the past"
"Oh that mine enemy had written q
book" Unfortunately there is now
aging the bloodiest and most terrible
war of all the ages!'
Points to China.
Rev. DR.. Smith recounted In brief
he history of the nations of ancient
Ind modern times, calling special at
ention to China, which by reason of
is today face to face
With extinction as a separate and SOW
.refgn nation.
Men blame Japan for the way she
las treated China he said. II do not.
blame China for the way she has
permitted Japan to treat her. 1t is
'hinas own fault With 40O,00O,000
he could easily have spoken in a Ian
,uage which would have been heard
nd responded to at Toxic. Set no
DOT on my soil. for II you do you in
ite disaster. and you will rue bitterly
he consequences And the nation that
oes not do this Is to be charged with
he sin of tempting another.
IF l am not mistaken, there is a very
ommon-a widespread-feeling that
eace must be sought at any price If we
re Christians My brethren. I believe
is precisely because we are Christians
hat peace must not be sought for at all.
We must seek for what is right-for
That is duty: for what is Goodwill, and
eace will come: If not peace with men.
hen that which is far better, peace with
Iod. All other peace is as a broken
eed and as but shifting sand thing
OF worth the having"