The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-25
The international Sunday School
Lesson for July 80 10 "The Word
OF The crosa."-i Cor. Ill to as
eY WILLIAM r. ELLIS.

OF The crosa."-i Cor. III to as.
Nv WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
A wonderful thing has happened.
The note of sacrificial service has
cre2t into the utterances OF the
statesmen OF our day. Thus II has
come To pass. as II never was in the
time Of Constantine the Great. that
the Cross Il anew the symbol OF
conquest. No more significant
phenomenon has accompanied the
intellectual. political and social up
heavai Of the past two years than
the emergence OF this sense OF vi
seriousness. The great nations have
been forced TO .enounce their self
ism ambitions and 10 accept a pro
gram Of altruism. The dominant
stafesmanship Of the day proclaims
unseinsh service az its creed The
supreme Obligation OF nations Is 10
serve the world. Not selhshness
but righteousness and truth and
brotherhood are now the avowed
goals OF governments.
We almost ruin our eyes AT this:
yet the change Is clear TO every
reader Of the daily papers. Presiden,
Wilson has staked the case of his
administration upon this platform.
Great Britain declares to the world,
through her highest responsible
ministers, that she accepts as her
mission the stewardship OF civiliza-
tion- Russia has been transformed
into q new mood OF idealism. The
noblest Interpretation of Germany
mission Is none other than world
service At whatever cost---even the
terrible toll OF war-a nation and an
individual must live for others.
The Gross has come 10 its own
State papers are echoing the teach.
Ing Of the Book Of the Revelation.
which pictures .fhe Slain Lamb In
the midst of the throne There can
be no sovereignty apart from sacri.
nee. The royal road leads over Col
gotha: for civilization We now per.
ceive must wear the prints Of the
Nails.
The Long. Long Advance.
For IL centuries princes and var.
riors have been proud TO wear the
!, Cro<s ar their emblem. Only now.
4 however. Il n Being craven on the
hearts OF nations. We DO not We;
fully understand the change which
has come 10 pass. The outlines OF
the cross OF government policie !,
are as yet faint: but they are grow
ing clearer daily. The highest
craftsmanship of the hour pro
pounds a program OF sacrihcial ser.
vice Even a nation may walk thu
way Of the Cross. although tina,
truth Ia still "f,olishness" 10 The
short sighted and the woridly.mind
I'd. II In none the less conquering
! our generation. az surely as Calyary
is ruling the world.
Too little Is made IN religious III,
crature and discussion OF these con
quests OF the Cross in tire realm OF
thought and diplomacy Not all who
participate In them understand the
full significance OF the process. n
Ia diihcult to realize the long. long
way the world has come in two
years--witb the tayonet Of war
prodding us forward. In verltabIr
Garden OF Gethsemane civilization
has been forced 70 learn the 40.
preme lesson OF life: which II that
life flowers into beauty and power
only when II Ia offered up in servic
and In sacrifice. This is true OF mil.
liens OF men In the trenches: even
more marvelousiy IL Il true Of gr,a,
nations. We should not fairly study
this sunday school lesson OF the
Cross without realizing this sublime
truth
etrsne Msat for Young Christians
This nrst II three lessons from
Paul's letter 10 the Corinthiar
church STRIKES at the root OF his
preaching and philosophy. Even e
there new believers freshly out O
heathendom, with all its enervatin,
selashness. sordidness and sensual
ny. he dared proclaim the way o
\ ~ Cross - the law of life. I quot,
The passage assiri "a:
For the preaching of the eros
4 = 70 them that perish foolishness
~ INTO No which are saved n 4
- toWof 81 Odd For Il n written
1ooeyUy the wisdcm OF In,
nto ~ ss1ns 10 soshins tn,