South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-05
NOT BREAK DOWN
OF CHRISTIANITY
Spread of ChriSt'S Teachings
Would Lessen the Need
for Preparedness.

The European war is not a break
down OF Christianity, but a break
down of the failure of Christianity,
a break down Of ecclesiasticism, for
mality and churchism. / will not
express an opinion on preparedness,
but if the nation spent as much
money and manhood in disseminat-
ing and spreading the principles of
Christianity it would not only, l be-
lieve, do more good but ii would go
a long way farther toward protect
ing the country than If expended
on armament" said Rev. O. +.
Tones last night in his sermon on
AT the Foot Of the Cross" at the
Indiana Avenue Christian church.
I'm the crucifixion of Christ" de-
clared Rev. Tones, his enemies.
the Jews, thought that they were
dealing him a double blow. Not
only they thought they were ac-
complishing His death but they were
subjecting Him 10 everlasting shame
and ignOminy A Roman citizen
could not be crucifed, for crucifix-
ion was thought to be the most ig-
noble death that could be given a
man at that time. They thought
that by crucifying Christ they
would silence forever His teachings
and destroy for all time His claim
tc be the Messiah. But the triumph
OF Christ and Of the cross, which is
the SYMBOL of His triumph, was only
made the more evident by this fact.
for today the cross is the hottest
symbol of religion and the sign that
stands for all that is hottest to man. -
The cross as a symbol of Jesus
Christ and his teaching does not be-
long TO any one church." said the
speaker, and he was inclined TO be-
Heve that the Protestants should
follow the example of the Catholics
in giving it a higher meaning and
a deeper significance.
But il is not TO bring to YOU the
philosophy OF the cross but the story
of the tragedy of Calvary that |
have come tonight" declared Rev.
Tones That event and its signifl-
canoe and the effect that il has exer-
cised upon the world and upon the
great crowd that witnessed it has
even a greater meaning than the
symbolism of the cross itself"
The story of the women that fol-
lowed Christ TO the cross Of Mary
Magdalene and Mary. the Mother OF
James and John. and OF Mary. the
Mother of Christ himself. is full OF
significance. the speaker believes. as
showing the sweetness and loftiness
Of woman's nature and to empha-
size the debt that wOmanhOod owes
TO Christ who lifted them out of the
state of bondage and asserted for
the first time that she had rights
and personality Of her own. In the
story OF the centurian, and the
scribes. and pharisees. and the
thiefs. the great multitude that fol-
lowed the cross is also a lesson. but
at this time in the story of the
soldiers who followed the cross and
east lots for the garments of Christ
and took such an important part in
the whole proceedings. there is a
particular moral.
They represent the armed power
Of the world OF the time" declared
the speaker. and the brutal part
they played in this awful tragedy is
a hit example of the brutalizing eff
fects that war has upon man. Little
did they think as they stood there
beside the cross that the man they
were crucifying would some day do
away with their trade"