The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-12
DR. EDMONDS CITES
 CHANGES WROUGHT
 BY THE WORLD WAR
Changes in Revelations Per- tain to Life Now More
 Than the Hereafter

That the changes spoken of in Revela- tions pertain to life here and now more perhaps than to life hereafter, was the position taken by pr. Edmonds in his sermon yesterday morning at the Ten1- pie, when he spoke upon The Changing Order"
 Ihe wiping away Of all tears. the heaven described in a language that thrills and comforts aching human hearts, may 1t not mean the betterinr or conditions, the making of earth a heavenly place, where justice, peace and liberty flourish. May it not be said to mean the evolution through tears and blood of man to the living out of the Christ principle that shall make heaven? {? The gradual victory of right over wrong, of good over evil, shall cause
 many tears to be wiped away" said Dr. Edmonds
 The former things are passing away, the old order changeth. God Is moving nightly. There are upheavals the like of which has never been seen before. Great questions are being answered, the trend of thinking is changed in a night. How did the average man look upon all the countries of the earth before the
 war compelled his interest; was he con- cerned about Russia, that now his pray CTS may be sufficient for her day, or for Italy, that now she may be steadfast and true. Japan and China he regarded as heathens, hardly worthy the mission ary efforts; now he hopes and prays that her millions will hurl themselves swiftly upon the side of the allies, and bring aid as much needed now. Despised and for gotten, things assume new dignity and place in life today.
 ''The church, too, meets the order of change, If she is alert and equal to the hour. The old programme has been found inadequate, the needs are not met. So she must enlarge her outlook and her in- terests. She must follow more closely
 after Jesus and less after dogma and theory She must spread out her actiyi-
 ties so that her influence is felt.
 "A church should be open every day
 of the week, every hour, not for an hour
 on Sunday Churches must be built for
 life, and the demand that religion shall
 be life, must be met or the institution
 will be put out of business for lack of conformity to the tides of liberty that
 oWSCP OvcI thc ciiuS Ol the GdTIn. ldl0 IS the preacher-men are learning new lessons ofimmortality now-they are fac
 ing actualities, they are standing up against the real thing.
 ''The awakening to new life of the Young Mems Christian association no longer content to erect large buildings and establish well paying dormitorics is a matter of note. The "" Is the salva- tion of the men in the trenches who creep worn and half mad with battle to the
 recreation hut" of the ''Y.' and find an oasis in the horrible desert of the bat tlefield, where comfort and tenderness and prayer is found. The Young Mems Christian association is born again in this time of stress, where so many changes come and make over again.
 Business is a new science now, with many men. who feel the urge and cali of the large demands are their personal gain. It takes war to wake some people up. There are men who have built a shrine of gold to a golden idol. and wor- ship there forgetful of all else. But the time is coming when men shall cry. God
 take my gold. take my bags, yea take life itself. only let liberty i've. let peace come again. and let God rule.
 ''Veriy, the old order changeth and over the hills we see coming a new heaven and new earth"
 Dr. Edmonds' sermon at the Lyric last night on the White Zone" was practical and interesting, and the responsibility of fathers to boys and mothers to daugh-
 ters was presented in terms that aroused men and women to thinking.
 "C;ive the boy and girl portable white zone that shall be carried about with them in all walks of life and temp- tations will be met and overcome You must be worthy yourself to be able to meet the young soul of your boy and girl face to face and speak the truth about lfe.' said Dr. Edmonds.