The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-04-27
PREPAREDNESS
HELD BOARDS
AT Y. N. c. A..
LAST NIGHT
SPLENDID AUDIENCE APPREciAT-
ED ADDRESSES OF SPEAKERS
ON THE SUBJECT OF "cAN A
CHRISTIAN CONSISTENTLY IA
voR PREPARepNEss7v
TOOK STRAW VOTE on
CHOICE OF CANDIDATES

In spite of the unfavorabie weather
several hundred people assembled at
the Y. NJ C. A. gymnasium Tuesday
night to hear the debate between Rev
Floyd Van Keuren. re1ior of Christ
church. and Mayor J. J. Ashenhurst
of East Canon on the question. Can
A Christian Consistently Favor Pre-
paredness?' The discussion was
friendly one OF an ail-absorbing sub
ject and was courteous. educational.
Interesting and Illuminating. That
the controversy was entertaining was
evidenced by the close atte ntion given
TO the speakers from the beginning TO
the end.
Secretary c. W. Van Patten OF the
Y. NJ. c. A. presided and announced
the rules governing the debate. Rev.
Van Keuren presented the affirmative
side OF the proposition and Mr.. Ash
enhurst the negative. Each speaker
was allowed half an hour 20 make his
argument; divided into periods Of nf-
teen minutes each. In addition Rev.
Van Kearen was granted ave minutes
in which to review the statements
made by his opponent Owing TO the
phraseology OF the question In con
troversy the speakers were restricted
ln their field d srEument and wers
rnahie yithout transcepding their
riehts IN the premises to discuss the
proposition whether nations In their
aEgregate capacity were justified In
j policy of military and naval prepar-
edness either for defensive or aggres-
sive purposes.
Rev. Van keuren in opening the de
bate laid down certain philosophical
principles antecedentiy supposed to
be proved as basis for his argn-
ment and upon these all of his funda-
mental statements were predicatei. 4.
He said that preparedness in the
sense in which Il would he used In
the controversy between himself and
MIR. Ashenhurst meant national in-
surance against war. Moral force he
continued. was a synonym for the
power OF God. but Il had TO express
itself through material means. Law
cannot be carried into effect without
physical force and that IL must some
times be appealed TO as a Christian
duty. Both nations and individuals
he contended. were warranted upon
scripturni grounds in making adequate
rae Ton. 10 alr Nap
and that those who neglect It are in.
different TO their Inherent rights. He
attempted to establish that PROPOSE
tion by allusions TO examples present.
ell In the Holy scriptures and the Ian.
PnaFe of the Master. as well as OF his
apostles. were quoted in support OF
his contention. National prepared
ness does not necessarily lead to mill.
tsrism or navalism and that national
disaster Is more seriously threatened
hr its neglect than by It's observance.
"war is hell" asserted Rev. Van
: gKcuren. "but." he continued. lit is
not the lowest kind OF he'll. Pandemo.
MUM sometimes reigns at peace meet
inrs at Harmony hall"
Rev. Van Keuren said that nations
were the highest unit in civilization
and that they must protect themselves
from the aggressions Of other units
OF n like character and combinations
of alien opposing races. There viii
be- he said. international comity and
goodwill IN the generations to come
and that the federation Of mankind In.
to a universal unit viii be the attain.
ment OF civilization for which we
are all striving. and for which as
Christian people We should endeavor
to bring about as speedily as possible
MIR. Ashenhurst contcnded that NOR.
al force was Gods agency for the gov
eminent OF the world. and. when
rightly directed, was sufficient to pre-
vent war between nations and main
tain peace between individuals. Mili-
tary and naval preparedness was
anti.Christian, and had its genesis
with men and women who were out
OF harmony with tho teachings Of
the Rsdcemer. He denied that pre-