Evening journal., 1916-07-17
Predicts REVIVAL OF
RELIGION After WAR
Bishop Oldham Says Christ
ians of All Denominations
Are Nearer God
RUSSIANS FIGHT
IN A "HOLY WAR

That the end Of the European war
will witness the biggest revival In
religion ever seen is the belief OF /
Bishop William f. Oldham. bishop /
slcct to Buenos Ayres, South Amer /
lea. who preached at both services in
Grace NJ f. Church yesterday. He
declared that Christianity is making
tremendous strides among the people
Of the warning nations, and that in
the time Of their affiiction they are
turning TO God
Bishop Oldham took as his text
Isaiah xxi, 11-12. for his morning dis-
course, and as an Introductory pic
tured In graphic words a walled city
inn the tropics In ancient times ana
the watchman on the wall keeping
watch BY night. Suddenly someone
awakes and calls. "Watchman, what
OF the night? and the answer comes
back that he does not really know,
that It Is still night but that the
morning my not be far OF. which
scene Isaiah. the prophet, POLITICALLY
described.
Using this question, what OF the
nlght? the speaker described scenes
and conditions in war oppressed Eu-
rope.
What is happening In the hearts OF
the people in Germany? he asked.
"What Is true OF Methodism I'm Ger
many is. true Of all other religions"
he said MANY pulpits are vacant,
but the pews are filled at every SER
vice with devout worshipers, not the
strong, virile men Of the land, for
they are all In the trenches, but by
old men, women and children.
1T matters not what our opinion
may be as regards those responsible
for the war; we know that the plain
people were not instrumental in
bringing II on. The hearts Of the Ger
man people are. more moved Christ
ward than ever before
1--WE call the French people friv-
olous. But have they shown them
selves so In the weary months of
suffering and sacrifice? But Il is not
new France we see only a discovery
nf the real France that has always
been"
Bishop Oldham said that denomina-
tional barriers have been torn down
IN France 10 a remarkable extent, and
that at once service announced In
Notre Dame, Catholics and protestants
alike. humhled themselves before God
on the floor OF the great cathedral.
"And what of Russian Bishop Old
ham continued.
I'VE have thought every Russian a
cossack and every Cossach brute
lint fhfc is f., fv,.,, g.,,, III, D.r-t,.,
Is the coming man Of Europe the
adolesccuf youth who has found
neither his mind or soul as vet. His
is the htful spirit with the unawaken-
ed energy Tho most tremendous
factor in human history will have been
born when Russia awakens.
Into the deeps Of the Russian soul
has come the belief that this is a holy
war and Mother Russia must brace
herself and endeav0r TO the utmost
TO secure her triumph
"The use of the vodka among the
Russian troops was abolished in what
ways5 By the edict Of the Gar? Oh.
no. King Alcohol is not so easily
oyerihrown. The habits OF a people
cannot be wiped out over night.
1T was because the people them
selves came 20 understand that their
strength came from abstinence and
since Russia needed their strength
they could and would abstain In
the knapsack OF every Russian sol
der Is q form Of prayer which prom
ises 10 become permanent religious
literature And yet you say. What
use is that 20 the Russian soldier
He cannot read
-True enough, nine out Of every
ten cannot. but the tenth man car
and does, and 10 him the others com'
Russia is coming through her birtl
pangs 10 a great life
And now Great Britain. How doel
IL in Britain? The English are 8
stubborn and n stiff-kneed people
hut they are slowly bowing the stub
born knee-not before a hostile pow
er-but before the great God who II
being more deeply thrust into the
consciousness Of the Englishman as
the power for righteousness viii
which He is allied
Bishop Oldham closed by declar.
ing that each OF the nations nCw
afame with the war spirit will eN-
perience the deepest religious feel
ing. .Watchman, what Of the night2
We shall soon see the light breaking
upon us and the great mass Of peo.
pie moving towards God. and God
feeling His way to the hearts Of His
people. Would to God we we're all
concerned in bringing on the day"