Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-27
CALLS FOR CONSERVATION
OF NATIONS ENERGIES
DIR. John u. Mott Delivers Second Of
Thomas Lectures mt Richmond
College.
MUST FACE THE SITUATION
Not Going to Shorten War by Min
tmtzinS Danger Which Threatens
Amcrica-Fcars War May Drag
On Through Next Year.

AEain in his second lecture OIL the
IhomaS Foundation delivered ycstcr-
day afternoon at Richmond college
on the subject effects of the War Nd
verso TO the Christian Religion nr.
John Il. Mott emphasized tho gravity
OF the situation in which America is
placed aud appealed for the consccra-
ZION OF all the nations energies Al once
To the task Of winning the victory.
w" are not roinc to shorten tho
war by minimizing the danger which
threatens America" said DR. Mott we
must face the facts souarcly count
/ tho cost even unto death, aud he re-
signed To pay in full IL VIC arc 10 make
tho pSycholog zeal impression upon the
central powers that is to have influence
in ending tho war. If America rises
| in earnest TO meet the call hope
that peace may come by next Christ
mas. Rut II she allows her spirit To
droop and shows disposition 10 avoid
her responsibility. the war will drag
on through next year. pray it may
not require the sigh, OF thousands OF
American graves to stir the nation to
action. am looking for people i'll this
country who are not so cowardly AS TO
blink the facts"
OBSTACLES Thrown N WAY
OF SPREADING GOSPEL
Reviewing those effects OF tho con-
/ Nct that were unfavorablc TO the
D
cred first the destruction Of life and
property. and later the i'll effect upon
the institutions and unity OF Chris
| tianity and the obstacle thrown in the
way of further spread of the Gospel.
The cost of the war TO those nations
engaged so far had amounted to an
aggregate of s14.000.O0 900, said DIR.
Mott, and the average daily eXpcndi-
ture for all belliGerents at present was
Sleo.o0",ooo. The figures did not in
Guide the destruction OF property ard
the loss incident to interrupted com
mcrce The cost of the war in men
had been about 5000 600, said DR.. Mott
! The daily casualties at present. includ-
ing killed. critically wounded and miss
ing. We're about 5000. Those Killed.
the speaker pointed out. have been not
the invalids and the feeble-ninded. but
the flower OF the nations young man
hood.
one of the effects OF the war; said
Or. Mutt. the confusing and
! troubling faith OF rHany Christians,
both those engaged in the struggle
and those in America. Many found il
impossible TO reconcile the horrors of
the war with the principles and ex-
ample OF Jesus. and were asking such
questions as Has Christianity lost its
power" is the Bible a safe guide Of
conduct" and How can believe in
a loving Father in Heaven and 60
forth To slaughter the enemies of my
country
TEACHES DISTRUsT
OF HUMAN INSTITUTIONS
The war came to pass" DR.. Mott
explained. because so-called Chris
tianity did not have itself SO under the
dominance Of Christ as to make such
a tragedy impossible. The war came
in spite OF Christianity. not because
of IL. The skepticism that has arisen
as result OF the war is against the
organized church and not against the
pure apostolic Christianity from which
the church had drifted.
Personally, my faith was never SO
bright in the ultimate triumph OF
Christ as il has been since the out
break OF the war" said Dr. Mott. The
war is colossal process of elimina-
ton. which will eliminate in riveting
attention on Jesus AS nothing else
could do. Anything that teaches dis
trust of men as such and Of human
institutions as contrasted with divine
cannot be without its advantages"
As result Of the war. many good
works. especially those bearing the
Christian name, have been forced to
discontinue. Not scores. hut hundreds.
Of schools and colleges, hospitals and
dispensaries in the dark parts Of the
world had been closed. Asia and AZ
RIGA had to be Dcnalized. as the speaker
expressed IL. for the sins of Europe
and America.
The war had placed colossal Stun
hlincbiocks, moreover. in the pathway
OF unhelicvers in this and other parts
Of the world. Many peoples of heather
dom were taking credit to themselves
over the fact that they were not so
barharous as the so-called Christian
nations. Japan was saying. said DR..
Mott, that the hope of China lay. not
in the leadership OF Europe and Amer
lea. but in that OF Japan.
OF CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Another Of the saddening results of
the war, said Dr. Mott. was the halt
ncccSsitated in the most promising for
ward movement in the history OF :hc
church In July. 1914. tho forces of
pure christianity confronted a situa-
ton unique for its opportunity, its
danger and its urgency. The world was
plastic, ready to he shaped by the
missionaries Of Christ. Never were the
doors Of opportunity thrown open so
widely as then simultaneously i'm the
| Far East and the Near East, in North
crn Asia and Southern Asia, in Africa
and Latin America. Urgency was add
ed to the opportunity by the growth of
nationalism and racial patriotism, by
the increasing clashes and misunder-
standings among nations and by the
spread Of corrupting Influences OF civil
lizaiion. II was tho least opportune of
all times to slackcn the efforts of
tho church, yet the depleted resources
and divided counsels OF Christianity
had forced the work to go uTdone.
The last adverse effect of the war on
Christianity mentioned by Dr. Mott
was the manning OF tho unity of the
| Christians In tho world. The spirit of
CO. operation and brotherhood among
believers in Christ had grown apace
In tho three decades Immediately pre-
ccding 1914 Before the United states
declared war. said the speaker. 45.Jht,-
COO Protcstants on the side OF the al
lies were lighting against $4,000 0G OH
tho side Of the central powers, and
100000 Roman Catholics on the side
OF tho allies against 63,00O,0o0 ON tho
side OF the central powers. Ircst
was lighting against priest, and each
was Offering prayers TO the same God
for tho destruction OF tho other.
| Or. Mott Will conclude the series Of
lectures at 1880 o'clock this afternoon
In the college auditorium. His sub
A