The Washington herald., 1917-04-29
The Patriots Religion.
By Rev. HUGH +. sTENENsoN,

By Rev. HUGH II. SNEN NENsONs
A new epoch IN the history Of our
country and the civilization of the world
was opened when President Wilson In
his immortal address summoned the ma
tion to respond to the call OF duty and
once more battle for freedom. The pa
tient silent leader Of the American peo-
pie followed ths example Of David. who
had tried to preserve the ties of friend
ship that long had existed between the
king Of Ammon and his government
Hanun not only rejected the messages
Of peace but deliberately did II In such
an insulting manner that except with
a man who desired peace. II would have
provoked q declaration Of war. II was
not until act after act Of defiance com
pelled David to wage q war Of defense
that he summoned the warriors Of Israel.
This has been the experience OF Presi-
dent Wilson IN his efforts to persuade
the German government to obey the laws
Of humanity and of nations. As ma
ton America can face the Judge OF all
the earth with a record that Is free
from the sin Of sordidness and selfish
ness for all Of her wars have been waged
for freedom. The Stars and Stripes have
never gone down to defeat. because the
men Of our navy and army have IN all
OF eur battles been willing to follow
the example Of the Lord Jesus, who
died TO make men free.
II. as a people, we had hesitated to
follow the leadership Of President Will
son. who has in all his efforts been
we would Nave been untrue to our past
history and missed the opportunity Of
service that God has honored US with
80 that as a nation we could place upon
the altar Of humanity for the glory
OF the Lord the unlimited resources OF
our farms. factories. and families. With
q faith that our cause Is just we have
assumed our place among the nations
who are battling for the freedom Of the
seas. determined with Gods help TO de-
stroy autocratic power, that Is RESPONSE
bic for the war. and preserve democracy
50 that ''the government OF the people
BY the people for the people shall not
perish from the earth
Turn to Religion in Crisis.
whenever men face any periIous un-
dertaking. the fact that all men are. as
Sabatler has pointed out ''incurably re-
ligious" quickly becomes apparent. Every
patriot realiz3s that the nation that viii
not serve God shall perish, so in the
crisis OF his country's history he seeks
to inpire his countrymen with moral
courage This was the attitude of the
unprincipled and unscrupulous Joab,
whose words have been selected as the
text Of this message Facing the tre-
.rrendous tasks that may call for rNonths
Of suffering. sacrifice and st lggle,
America needs to be courageous. Every
ratriotic citizen must seek to dest oy the
cowardly spirit. that places irsonal
safety first. With but one life to give
fer God and our country. let all OF the
people have the spirit of the volunteer
asnd gladly respond to the nations call
Cor either service or sacrifice. The emil
nent statesmen. scientists, and soldiers,
no are now with US from England and
France, know from the bitter expert
cnce OF the past few years, that We ought
not to underestimate the power Of the
Zoe we are facing whose resourceful-
Rezs and insidious influence has girdled
Re Globe with its secret spy service and
Giabolical intrigues.
Not only il Democratic civilization
threatened by the enemy We face, but
the very existence of our nation Is i'm
rerflsd. We have but one thing TO do
at this hour and that is to play the
men for our people" II we follow Gods
pan for His people we can win. The
Lord of Hosts placed His stamp OF
approval upon the selective service
method Of securing an army, when He
''spake unto Moses in the wilderness OF
Sinai and told the leader of Isreal to
enroll upon the same day from every
family IN all the tribes, except tnat OF
Levi, every male from twenty years
old and upward, all that were able to
20 forth to war" This method gives
. nation the chosen men who are war
riors" and yet provides a place for all
II requires more courage to live for ones
country than to die for her glory. The
volunteer may unconsciously be select
ing the easier path of service when. his
training and talents demand that his duty
calls for him to furnish the men on the
firing line food, clothing, munitions and
machinery. Gen. Travis has told how the
ma without legs who could not crawl
march or fight inspired the generals