The Detroit times., 1917-02-24
is
USHEREOIN
S0LEMNLY
Nation SeriOus-Minded
In Face Of Grave
War Peril
ALL SECTS JOIN
IN SERVICES
American Mind Shows
Tinge of Suffering
and Sacrifice
5Y The RELIGIOUS RAMBLER

Not for so years has America
greeted the Lenten season in such a
solemn mood as that now manifest.
The 40 days set apart by all Iiturgi
cal churches 10 commemorate the
Passion OF the SAVIOUR began last
Wednesday.
Aside from the unvonted serious
mindedness OF a large public, the
most remarkable fact about the 1917
Lent II that n Is 80 widely recog
nixed BY churches OF nearly all de
nominations Presbyterisns. Rap
lists and Congregationalists. in some
parts OF the country. arr keeping
the anniversary in a fashion which
few years age Was confined 20 the
Episcopal Lutheran, Catholic and
Moravian churches.
Most large cities are holding spc
cial MONDAY Lenten services for
business people. and the increased
ATTENDANCE upon these is a revela-
ton OF the public mind In PhiIa.
delphia an INSTRUMENTATION com
mittce OF laymen conducted. from
Jan 2 right NJ until Lent. z daily
noon Quiet hour" with scdresse-
by :. n Gordon. The distinguished
author and speaker. and these drew
great thrOngs 10 fheater Ia Inv
center OF the city.
The Ge;hsemsne % Humanity
u has become almost fock
phrase with public speakers noNa-
DAYS 10 declare that tho world is af
present. undergoing The gathsem
ane ~ humanity" The imfueasura
be ordeal Of blood and suffering
thru which Europe has been passing
has caused "A DE profundts" chor1
10 rise 10 heaven. There j. no es-
Gaping the fact that the present var
has been q real spiritual expe Renee
for the greater parr of The human
race. A the editor OF great caily
Newspaper said 20 me rev dnys
ago. Il tel you. people are thinking
something besides tht almighty dol
lar"
This year i.eng hnds the American
nation related 90 he NOrld-sorroN
in new aud intimate and personal
fashion The thoughtful people q
the country regard The experience
with ave. ~ descent into ihc Gar
den. and souls beyond counting have
sweat the bloody sweat. We Go not
Yet SNOW what Hes ahead ~ the ~
iion. the people are bew 10, red and
wondering and jet a. lhs same
tine submissive and rescigfe lr
America o. 20 Undergo The ultimate
experience OF vicRriOus suffering for
civiliEa son and for the race. tf yul
y. in rood o. spiritual cxAlta'i0n
On efery horizon there arr go
tents OF the religious sentiment that
is n, sly zntmatinF tn country
Church attendance Is reported 10
have increased IN manv piaecs Pas
TORS say fhst eonr regzticns seem 70
hunger FOR vital spiritual preaching
All The recent conventions whlrh
sound disunctiyeiv religious note.
have bad record. breaking atferdancr.
Bible classes and institutes AFRO
thronged. Whenever they ger 90.
pOrtunity people seek % knou the
deeper. diyiner meaning 0l ire day
America Not yellow" But Red
When America broke with Ger
many there Was none of fhe lnEr
tic ussieria which. AZ ilc outbreak
cl tbe Spanlsh.American Far mate
TIRE lua.eious griese 3 grilt r,eo,l.
tlcn. d sober sense 81 -espoasiaiI rs.
go awed appreciation OF lhv .ignih-
csrce ol abe step marked zoe a,'t
Jude 81 press and public have az
4, nded wiihin the past tu0 weeks
yeveral meetings ~ men n hich
thc crl b. was con .drrcd. and 4li 0l
item acre tense, but On hlzz
plane ol spirbuaiy-minded patflol
Ism Religion is evidently affecting
the thinking o. re masses OF men
IN this emergency
Sometimes this quiefness. this ~.
rtude Of thinking thing thru. ls
mistaken for Indifference aud Gov
ardice, and the nation is called "ys
low" Far from %. n one ma a.
ply color elective 20 the American
state az mind icdAs Il must b. red
The tinge of unering and sacfince.
Tho passion ~ the people partakes
Cd the purpose - patriots soross tho
water. sho have suffered 10 the soul
81 this war and " Is not unrelated
go fhe acriAce OF the Saviour whose
aIrring- are now being commemo-
rated.
These are lcntcn days n the
deepest meaning 81 that phrase. Ire
shadow 81 cross lies athwart the
world The brandmarks Of surren.
der end sacrifice are being horned
into ne souls Of the people lrsyita.
biy. n thi- new, profound view men
and women ere turning fof light
aud strength 60 uhe Comforter whD
wtni 10 Calvary by way ~ Geth.
semanc. that fuller. freer. truer life
ight come 10 mankind
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4 series ~ Addresses - Interest