El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-04
DUTY Of CHURCH
To SECURE PEACE
Church "Too Often Wages
War of Prejudice In
stead Of Convictions. "

That the churches should unite IN
teaching peace and cease waging wars
for socalled convictions, which too
often are prejudices," was the declara-
ton Of Rev. Perry J. Rice at the union
services held Monday night In Trinity
Methodist church
II was the first service IN the series
being held this week in observance OF
the week OF prayer"
Rev. W. f Packard, pastor Of the
church. presided and conducted the
opening service Of song and prayer
The Trinity quartet was present ana
rendered a selection and Mesdames w
d. Howe and Bates Hughes Evans sang
a duet. A very excellent Week-night
audience was present
Rev Mr.. Rice. pastor OF the First
Christian church, preached the sermon
OF the evening on the subject: Peace,
International and national"
Two Counter Currents.
Mr.. Rice said: Two counter cur
rants are discernible in the stream of
swift and deep. The one is the stream
of war. the other is the stream Of peace.
Men have been fighting animals from
the beginning. We have always glorl-
fled war and honOred the heroes Of war
and we do so until this day. prompted,
doubtless, by a worthy impulse But
always people have longed for peace
Pages have been written OF peace,
poets have sung about 1t and prophets
have anticipated it There is TO deeper
desire in humanity than this age old
desire for peace VIII IL ever Gomez 1
believe it will
Fundamentals Of Peace.
fIf we are to have peace, however,
two or three fundamental considera-
lions are necessary. In the first place.
we shall have TO broaden our idea Of
patriotism There is a place IN the
sun for every nation Slowly We are
coming to recognize the fact The
Romans appIauded an unadulterated
hate for foreigners The Greeks
called all other peoples barbarians.
and the Jews called them paGans- We
have gone forward a little but sun
speak Of 'chinks' and greasers- A
true patriotism cOmpels one TO love
ones own country ana 20 love also
every other country in the world
Spiritual Forces In Peace.
Then. too, If we are TO have peace,
we must have the true value OF spirit
ual forces. We are strIkIngly mater
ialistic in our thought of things. We
still think in terms OF the material
and forget that the mightiest forces IN
the universe are not material out OF
this feeling comes our desire to in
crease ornaments We want to meet
force with force. Jesus said: They
that take the sword shall perish by
the sword but We do not believe IL l
though every generation of human I
y Q
Would that our own country might |
now hear and heed it
The DOEmatic War.
Again. If we are to have peace. we !
must have a new definition Of religion /
Let US be humble enough and honest !
enough TO confess il. The institution I
founded by the Prince OF Peace has I
not always promoted peace. She has I
striven and waged war for her socalled /
which too often were her 1
prejudices. Harold Begbie recently 4
said: Dogmatic religion was dying i
before the war. Now the war
has come to teach US that religion !
is self sacrifice devotion and service
thus conceived is the mightiest
promoter Of peace, and peace will come
when the church unitedly advocates it"
The service tonight will be held in
the First Baptist church and Rev Chas-
l. Overstreet, pastor OF the First Pres
ovterian church, will preach the
sermon
The choir Of the First Baptist church |
has arranged a beautiful program, of
which Charles Andrews will be the {
director. and every effort will be made
% make this meeting one OF the very !
pest OF the whole week