The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-23

m'sht Welen somewhat In favor OF un-
dertaking the raising of peanuts for
the market.
Crying Upward I'm The Hour OF De.
spair.
It is not the win of God that man
should destroy himself with war, but
war is mans inevitable way Of whip
ping himself for his follies, vanities
and violations of the law which came
to us through Moses as the law-giver
Tor all mankind. When we violate
the law we bring on our own punish
ment, just as the man who sticks his
finger in a flame, and thus violates the
natural law. suffers an inevitable burn.
All laws seem to operate in the same
way upon those who violate them and
make themselves the victims OF their
own acts as individuals and peoples.
There is a penalty for the violation Of
the law. In Leviticus, the natural laws,
and the civic laws, and while In the
case Of man-made law we may some-
times escape there is no way to escape
Gods law. for il. perhaps. we do not
reap the penalty here, there is no
place in eternity where we may hide.
The European nations, which are
wasting millions Of lives and billions
OF treasure in war, trust in God and
each believes its cause is right. How
ever, it is not Gods war. It is their
war. and they are the instruments Of
mans folly and not the instrument
Of the will Of the Maker Of Man. God
Is good" and there is no good in war,
hence war is the bosom Of destruction
which man brings upon himself and
humanitys
Nevertheless. II the war will serve to
appal man and make him humbly turn
to God and forget that mankind had
depended too much upon itself. Il win
serve the purpose Of good. It really
seems. that all sides are looking to
God in the day of the calamity. woe
and distress Of nations. In Liverpool
q few days ago Vice Admiral Sir David
Beatty, commander Of the firs. battle
cruiser squadron, whose ships won a
victory over. the enemy in the North
sea, made a strong appeal for great
revival Of religion in England as a
necessary step to victory in the war"
as \ Liverpool dispatch had It. In q
letter read at the annual convention
OF the Society for the Propagation of
Christian knowledge, he writes:
Surely Almighty God does not in
tend this war to be just hideous fra.
cas- or blood-drunken orgy. There
must be purpose in it: Improvement
must come out Of itH In what direc-
ton? France has already shown US
the way and has risen, out OF her ruin
ed cities, with revival Of religion
that is wonderful. Russia has been
welded into whole and religion plays
IA great part. England still remains to
be taken out Of the stupor or self-sat-
isfaction and complacency into which
her fourishing condition has STEPPED
her. Until she can be stirred out OF
this condition. until religious revival
takes place. just so long will the war
continue. When she can look ON the
future with humber eyes and a prayer
on her lips. then we can begin to count
the days towards the end. Your socie-
ty is helping to this end and so is
helping to bring the war to a success
full end"
That is very pretty, but as faith
goes. all the nations pray to God for
the victory. when it is peace they
should pray for. II man is a brother
hood according to the Christian re-
ligion. his prayers should not be for a
victory over the brotherhood. but for
peace among the peoples, the races
and the nations. all OF whose acts are
displeasing to the God to whom they
pitifully appeal. The only victory for
man can be peace. and the world NAV
get 1t since there are signs that the
nations are hambling themselves and
are beginning to feel that their desti-
MES are In the hands Of higher pow
er than themselves.
The precepts Of the divine law and
religions based upon it are for peace.
and obeying the law would preclude
the possibility OF war. "To obey is bet
ter than Observation-Disclosures Star.
NEW YORK COTTON MARKET.