The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-06-15
WAR UNTIL VICTORY UPON GEE


President Thomas H. Lewis, OF the
Western Maryland College, IN hlf
baccalaureate sermon at the 41tr
commencement of the College, IN the
Alumni Hall, Sunday, said:
! THE best celebration Of our semi
| centennial does not consist In remln'
iscences The true inspiration In the
achievements of the fathers Oh LIE
mast 80 years is to stir their children
and successors to achieve still great
er things. By those achievements the
children are lifted to Plsgah Where
thew may see better things than have
been told them; a college strength
ened i'm it's own resources, constant
ly enlarging it's capacities, teaching
more truth, developing more virtue
and giving a better preparation Tor
life"
Nor have | designed by this theme
to beguile you from the thought OF
war. War does not become better by
our refusing to think of it. Most OF
our talk about war revolves about
preparedness and the chances or
victory with the use to be made or
victory. Unfortunately the impulses
to this thinking are largely our least
noble. such as hate, pride and re
venge Perhaps, as human nature IS
constituted, these passions are lnsep-
arabic frorl war; but they make war
more bitter and cruel, and they are
not safe guides to the successful con-
duct OF war nor to the real final is
sues, since they blind us to the per
pective.
The only way to get perspective
of this great war is through visions.
Our young men who study profoundly
the causes and scan dispassiOnately
the tendencies of this war will see in
vision a future which will enable
them to better endure the evils tn
must now suffer and will show them
the Angel OF the Lord riding the
whirlwind and directing the storm.
No one has interpreted this vision
better than President Wilson, who
sees this as a fight for the ultimate
peace of the world and for the liberia
ton of its peoples, the German peO-
pies included; for the right of nations,
great and small, and the privilege OF
men everywhere to choose their way
of life and obedience; for world
made safe for democracy, peace
planted upon the trusted foundation
of political liberty.
1T is for you, young men, to catch
The inspiration of this vision in all its
pacifsts Of you; it will not diminish
your whole-hearted allegiance to
your country in its hour Of stress and
peril; rather it will strengthen you
for the stern task already begun and
TO be prosecuted reSOlutely until the
frightful autOCracy which fears not
God nor regards man, and whose bar
barities have shocked mankind, shall
be beaten down and give place to
rule that comes from the people and
governs the people.
BY the inspiration of this vision
you will see what things are possible
in this world, and you will highly re-
solve that the awful price We are now
paying for world liberty and for
world peace shall not have been paid
in vain: that the precious sacrifice OF
our braveSt and best on the altar OF
this hideOuS MOlOch shall pay in full
the worlds lOng-standing mortgage
to the ambition and lust Of power.
Face to face with this vision |
would bring you today to the holy
altar of this ideal and swear to
eternal and unrelenting hate of the
1evil-inspired doctrine Of the divine
right of a Caesar to master the
world. and to a high conservation of
your lives, your fortunes and your
sacred honor to the sublime concep-I
ton that One. and but One, is your
Master ard ell We. all We, are breth-I
rem