The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-17

wrong or to enforce a right, to defend
against an injury or to make con-
quest. And more frequently than
9th erwise it's sole aim Is "a greedy.
selfish desire to gain superior power,
larger possessions. extended realm,
greater fame and glory. There are
held up before the private soldier and
the petty officer alluring prospects for
honors and distinctions-the chance
for promotion, the chance of winning
honorable mention. and with it the
laurel of fame. the medal of honor.
the name Of hero to>be Landed and
handed down to posterity And the
leaders of the nations. the kings and
rulers, have their high ambitions COR
wider domains and larger power.
Selfish Desires Causes.
Who can tell for what the nations
of Europe are now struggling in a
war unparalleled in history for extent
and ferocity? Whatever may be said
of extenuating circumstances in be-
half of any of the nations involved.
back Of all and fundamental In the
causes are the selfish desires for SUI
premacy. the determination to have
and to WELD power. II is the bull
dog spirit that Is in control. It is
the brute in man that is snarling and
swapping and bowling and biting for
the mastery. The world is witness
ing the degrading spectacle of great
and mighty nations tearing at each
others threats. painting and strug-
Cling for each others blood, deter
mined at whatever cost in precious
lives and treasures to make the foe
lick the dust and cry out for mercy.
stand UP over the bleeding body of his
"a H4ato h 60
and cry: Behold the mighty one!
Look on me; am the conqueror: to
me belongs the glory and the honor
of having prevailed, l snalI be the
master now.
In contrast with such selfish and
ignoble aims are the aims of Chris
tianity. Christianity aims to rid us
OF selfishness, to remove from our
/ hearts those ignobIe desires for dis
fame and glory. Christianity would
implant within as the spirit of the
| Lord Jesus Christ and make us His
humble servants to devote our lives
TO the welfare Of others 20 give our
selves for the relief OF the distressed
and suffering, to be ministers of COM
fort. to be messengers OF peace and
! happiness, to labor for the better
! ment of life's conditions and to bring
men into touch with the holy and
/. divine for the enrichment OF their
characters, and for their publication
and salvation.
Christianity aims 20 shower bless
ings upon this world, to make this
better world In which to live, to
/ make us better mon and women while
! we live here. and TO prepare us for
the endless eternity that awaits us
when we leave this world. Chris
tianity tells every man 10 look not
! on his own things but also on the
things of others, and teaches us to
/ have the greatest regard for the hap
piness, prosperity and blessedness OF
others. The aims OF Christianity are
/ in direct conflict with the aims of war,
and moreover,
Ruin and Misery in Wake
III. The effects of Christianity are
In direct conflict with the effects OF
war
In the wake of war come ruin.
! wretehedness. devastation, misery.
A death. MANNED and mntiiated bodies.
shattered homes, wasted lands rutne ]
cities. bleeding hearts. Weeping wild
ows, homeless orphans, poverty
stricken people, weighted down with
heavy burdens Of taxation.
One can scarce imagine the horrors
of the wars prevailing In Europe
one can not conceive the calamities
they are bringing upon the millions
4 OF people involved. When we think
7 of the armies OF men for hundreds
and hundreds OF miles facing each
I other and moving down each other
/ with the terrible weapons Of modern
warfare, think of the awful devasta-
ton and ruin, think OF the wound ed
4 and mattlatstf and dying. think OF
the anxiety and anguish. the sorrow
I and suffering. Of the women and chill
dren. think of the multitudes that
are furnishing and starving for food
| and think OF the hopeIessness and
misery OF the great masses OF the
! people we stand aghaSt. appalled,.
I that such Gala naity has come upon
the world. And the end is not yet
! God only knows what II will be ere
peace reigns again.
The dreful effects Of war are In
! direct contrast with the results of
Christianity. To Christianity life and
( health and property are sacred
Peace and happiness. liberty and
| prosperity. are her handmaidens
While war tears down and destroys.
! Christianity builds mp and renews
| Christianity. If given full sway. would
! cover the earth with peace, Ii would
/ make men and women happy with
/ freedom and plenty, it would inspire
| the strong to bear the inffrmities of
! |aaS yam IL Wcutu indHs men every
! where realize that they are brothers,
t and lead them to deal with each
/ other in a brotherly way.
T. There are two OF three conclusions
wish to draw from this discussion.
Duty of Chrfstfanm.
ID One fs this: The weight of
| Christian influence must be against
war. War Is relic of barbarism and
| heathenism. It's an expression of the
brute IN human nature 1t IL our
duty as Christians SO to live and labor.
so to exert our influence, so to perse-
we're in establishing the principles of
Christianity that It shall become in
oreasingiy difficult for our nation to
become involved in war. 1t is not
war. but righteousness. that exaiteth
/ a nation.
| (2) Another thing: The prevalence
| OF war in, he world today shows that
| Christianity has not been established
In the earth. England. France, Ger
many, italy and Russia are called
Christian nations But there is no such
thing as Christian nation. A Chris
/ tian household liz one in which every
member OF the household in Chris
tan. A Christian city would be one
! in which every citizen of the city Is
! Christian. This is not a Christian city
IL IT were We would not need to lock