The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-27
HE PEOPLES FORUM.
The End Of The Old; The BEGINNING
of The New Year.

Is slipped away from us and II made
its bow. Now II has run its course and
is about to bow itself out in favor of
the new. And what will Is he to us, or
bring to us? When we asked ourselves
that question a year ago, we little
dreamed what was in store for US. 1t
has been year full Of experiences. 1t
was bright with hope at the beginning,
but clouds soon overcast our horizon.
Happy homes have been plunged into
gloon; hearts full of JOY have been
darkeEed by the war cloud.
The storm threatened for months to
burst upon US, but when it did, we
were amazed We were as those par
alyzed. We heard the call to arms and
saw our boys rushing to the defence of
the flag. That old flag stirred the
slumbering patriotism to its depths 1t
famed up into full blaze. A bright,
fiuttering blaze-that betokeaed more
than usual ardOr. They dropped the
peaceful pursuits of life, donned the
kahiki, shouldered a musket and went
off to the camps for the drill that will
fit them for wars bloody work. The
horrors of the battle field come up be-
fore US and we see>the brave lads fall
ing before the leaden fire, or scattered
before the exploding shells. We see
them sick and suffering for the lack of
comforts so essential to them; we fol
low them on the long hikes, or the
forced marches; we go with them into
the trenches, we witness the charge
and see them go lover the top" but
somehow we lose sight Of them for
they come not back after carnage, but
''some where in France" the heros-
our boys are sleeping the long sleep
of the brave. Resting in the graves of
faithful soldiers awaiting the sound OF
the trumpet that shall awaken the
dead. Let Us noe look at these things
We and they too, are making our
sacrifice for liberty and right, for
justice and honor. It's fight against
the presumptuous claims Of rad handed
autocracy. chat would crush the world
under it's heel 1t Is against bold
blatant, bIasphemous Kaiserism, who
would dare to put himself in the place
of God, and who allows his will
ing dIpes, who share him ambitions
and spirit, to call him THE All
Hi~hest" This tile is found in
Luther's translation OF the Bims, and
then always applied to God. That he
should permit his subjects to call him
"tne Ali-Highest, is blasphemv. But
the eternal God will avenge His own,
and His enemies shall hex the dust.
We can wait the good pleasure Of oar
God, assured Of this, that justice shall
be melted out to all who obey not the
gospel OF Christ. The CID year closes
in pail. The mantle of mourning
casts itself about US, The heavens
above are as brass and the earth be-
meath Us is as iron. We cry out Of the
depths, but no answering voice is heard.
What shall we do? Wait dear soul,
wait. In patience possess ye your
soul. The darkest hour is before day
light. The day will break in all its
splendor ere long and We "shall yet
praise Him who is the help of my
countnance and my God"
But we are looking on the wrong side
of the weo. 1t is full of knots and
loose ends of threads and is by no
means inviting to look at. Let Us look
on the other side. It is smooth. Beauti-
full colors blend in perfect harmony. 1t
is all right on this side. Behind a
frowning providence, He hides a smil-
ing face" God rules, and the nations
shall yet learn this and bow in subjec-
ton to His authority.
The storm RACES and the sea threat
ems to swallow up all, but our Father is
at the helm and we shall vet make the
harbor in safety.
With strong faith and mistaken !
confidedce We will enter upon the New
Year, ready to do our part, and to meet |
what is before US with brave heart. |
Never was there a better opportunity
for the church to make itself felt IN the |
world. Meyer has there been such a
call for united and continuous effort for
righteousness. Humanity is stretching
forth its hands to God and the church |
is the herald of good tidngs to ALL She
has only been playing at her work. She |
must awake and sally forth under her
banner-the cross of Christ. Of course
there are many and urgent demands on
our beneyolence but who will decline to
do all he can. It is duty; it is privilege |
too and will bring to US suitable re
wards. There are the millions who are
starving and freezing, who are looking
to US for help. Seveteen cents a day;
five dollars month, sixty dollars a
year will save one-and who knows
what the possibilities of that one life
may be. Can't you hear the tender
but assuring voice of Him who when on
earth had not WHARF IN Law His baad