The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-10
lis STUPEND0US CRIME
| AGAINST GOD AND MAN
Newark Minister Characcrizes sink
ing of the Iusdtania n Pre-
mcditated Murder.
HOPES GERMANS WILL
PROTEST HERSELF
Tremendous Issue Of Common Human
ity Makes II the Duty of Ministers
To Voice Indignation. He De-
clarc~

New York, May 9.-Rev, John
Henry Jowett -. D., pastor OF the
Fifth-Avenue Presbyterian Church,
preaching this morning on Things
Which Cannot BE Shaken character
lied the sinking of the BusitaIIia as
a ''stupendous crime against our race
and a colossal sin against our God"
He called il foul and premeditated
murder" and prays that great wave
of pure and purposeful and active in-
dignation may sweep around the
globe, that even Germany herself may
rise against the infamy perpetrated
In her name.
We are passing through days" said
DR. Jowett. when conventional stand
ards which seemed to have the fixed
ness Of the stars, are being blown to
the winds. Political and economical
safeguards are going down like wood
en- fences before an angry sea. Com
mon securities have vanished. On
every side ~ineh and women are whis-
pering the" question. Where are We? p
Amid all The violations OF ideals and
mid all the riot Of barbarism. there
are some things which cannot be
shaken.
Truth and Freedom Eternal.
The obtrusiye circumstances OF the
hour shrek out against that creed
Hut amid all the material commissions
the power Of truth and the passion
for freedom cannot he destroyed, and
the law OF moral retribution cannot
he shaken. IN the corporate life Of
nation nprighteousness Is always
associated with disease and death
There is an inward deterioration what
ever flush of transient victory might
rest upon her armies
pr Jowett commented upon the fact
that the days worship was ciouded
with an appalling gloom which he felt.
1t is ones sacred duty 10 feel. 10 be
crushed before H. He emphasized the
fact thai in the last eight months
he had spoken not n word tending In
IN laAat degree 10 inname the passion
Of war or widen or deepen the gulf
% Misunderstanding between the war
ring peoples.
But. here is u happening which
pushes far beyond questions or racial
frontier lines pr. Jowett went on, III
IL not restricted matter Of nationality
1t is a tremendous issne of common hui
Iuanity and for any pulpit to be silent
on such an issue would be rank re-
creancy to the just an holy Lord
Colossal sin Against God
The striking of the Lusitania and
sinking her without warning and with
out giving any opportunity even for
women and little children to escape
IL a stupendous crime against our race
and a colossal sin against our God.
1T Is not manly and honorable war
fare II is foul and premeditsted muir.
der 1t ls not an advance into more
chivslrous methods Of struggle. IT is
81 relapse into dark and savage bar
barism
And in this house of God. the house
Of just and righteous God, ] join witt
tens of thousands of my fellow minis
tiers In this country In execrating th'
terrible deed, and, most fervently do
pray that a great wave of pure an'
purposefui and active indignation ma!
sweep around the globe and that ever
Germany herself may rise In stern ant
holy protest against the infamy which
on Friday was perpetrated in he
name