Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-28
AMERICA INVOLVED IN
WORLD-NyIDE CONFUSION

The letter in part follows:
America is involved to-day in world
wide confusion, which finds its most
acute expression in the battle fields of
Europe. No sclf-!solation on our part
is possible. The fortunes Of the ma
tions are interviewer as the threads of
a tapistry.
Interest can never again be Sec
tional. The world is henccforth one.
for the time being. in disturbed and
suffering unity. in days TO come in n
unity where order and health will
reign. Political eXpedience may in war
time require neutrality of the state,
but 1t cannot hold In leash the sym
pathies of the individual citizen A
man cannot be passionless and retain
his manhood.
The fact that our nation is not Mt
war affords no grounds for smugness
It throws upon us the searching re-
sponsibility of cxalting the true ideals
OF peace and Incorporating them in our
national life. Nationalsm too often
assumes the ugly role OF group selfish
ness, or false patriotism. Local con-
ditions determine what form this dis
ease viii take. Yonder 1t breaks
forth in the scarlet rash of war; here
i'll unconsecratcd prosperity, which is
bound to cause manhood to decay.
NATION NOT AT PEACE.
THOUGH Sill; BE NOT AT WAR
The nation that in some quarters
for the sake of gain. still chains to
the wheels OF industry the bodies and
souls of her little children, that allows
human life 10 be sacrificed to the in
vcntions of speed and production from
lack of costly safeguards, that hceds
but list!essly the cry of the poor and
oppressed. is not at peace. even
though she be not at war. If pres
emily we aspire to act as peacemakcrs
in behalf OF the warning nations. let
our aspirations he tempered by the re-
Election that we are tainted with the
common disease of which the eruption
of war is symptom, not a cause God
hates goddess and empty peace as
much as he hates an unrighteous war.
Let II be sadly said that. in proper
tion TO her swollen wealth, Americas
contribution to the innocent sufferers
in Europe is the mercst pittance.
"If America comes out of the world
disorder richer in purse and poorer in
manhood. she will bring upon herself
the penalty OF debased life, or even
of losing her very soul
mo nation. least of all so vast and
diversified Il one as ours, is iusti:;ad
in trusting to chance for the creation
OF her national character She must
expect OF every one of her citizens
some true form of national service.
rendered according to the capacity of
each National preparedness is n clear
duty. If this service assumes the form
OF military defense, such can easily
become menace and will surely fall
snort OF pacific effect, unless all the
productive forces of manhood are at
the same moment shaped into social
order. The only thorough prepared
ness is that eXemplifed by Christ, the
preparedness of character based upon
life with God
THEY REBrKE OUR WORSHIP
OF COMFORT AND MONEY
THE nations now at war have as
much to teach us as we have to teach
them. They rebuke our worship of
comfort and money by the daily offer
ing, upon reeking altar, Of life and
treasure; they declare 20 us that in
toXicating liquor. which is so freely
ana carclcssly drunk In our land. is a
national menace to be dispensed with
"t TIC cost ol lowered revenue, ~
with the gain OF heightened virility;
they teach us that food is the staff of
physical life, not an invitation to
dnntincSs and gluttony; they rebukc
our spiritual poverty by the Splcndor
of their spiritual caEcrncss which, out
of their tragedy. brings new visions
from God and breeds new virtues i'm
men; they shame our sclf-induigcncc
by degree Of self-sacrifice that is
royal.
Greed of possessions. OF honor. of
pleasure have literally dcthroncd God
from His supreme place among men.
The sole cure Is to eNalt God.
THUS far the church has only been
Continued on Second Pago.)