Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-09
SCRIPTURAL Punch
IN This Sermon.
DR.. Randolph Tells Ameri-
cans TO Keep Their
Eyes Open
LACK OF VISION
MAY COST LIVES

Deploring the lack OF vision on the
part Of Americans and pleading for
them 10 get their eyes open TO the
presence OF the conflict abroad. the
Rev. Herbert F. Randolph IN Grace
NJ. f. Church last night, declared,
that not until serious sacrifices Of
Americas manhood had been mado
would the true awakening come to
this nation. His topic was Value OF
Vision" being the third Of series Of
sermons on "The Gospel for a World
81 War"
DR.. Randolph's discourse while
filed, with references to the topic
Cleaned from the Bible, had with II
q punch" that cannot fail to hsve its
effect. He referred TO the efforts OF
the dust throwing gang Of Pots
dam" TO the warnings given years
ago by former President Roosevelt
20 this nation TO prepare for trouble
but the caution was not needed.
THE war IS revealing many things
said Dr.. Randolph. "of great interest
% mankind, but nothing OF greater
interest 10 US Americans, than the
part we have been called upon to
take IN giving eyes to tina Allies, that
they may be able to put out the eyes
of the enemy. We are asked to sup
ply a feet Of airplanes, that will en-
able the Allies to see the marvellous
preparedness Of the foe behind the
firing line.
I'VE are told by experts that the
war Is to be won not on land and sea,
but in the air. This is only another
way Of speaking 9 truth uttered cen
turtles ago that where there is no
vision the people perish This Is true
not alone on the battle lines In Europe
but here In America
What IS the matter with American
She ia either asleep or she Is blind .
A man said 20 me TIT there was no
use in these preparations because the
war was 5000 miles away. That Is
the trouble. Either you are wilfully
blind or you are blinded by the dust
throwing activities Of the Potsdam
gang, who are fooling the world by
their constant limitations OF a speedy
peace. However Il may be, the great
need Of the people In this land, Is
that they have the courage to look
the foe in the face; 10 pray Almighty
God to open their eyes, TO take away
the scales that blind us to the awful
ness Of the issue. Il Is this wilfu
blindness that is going to result II
the slaughter OF hundreds Of thou.
sands Of our own men in France.
"Our greatest foes are those Of oul
own household We don't see and
many OF us are such moral towards
that we simply won't look.
Some men have seen this confic
for a quarter Of century. Coming Of
day by day. inch by inch. lord Rof
erts saw It forty years ago and warne'
his countrymen 10 get ready. The
laughed at him, because they did no
see what the veteran warrior saw
Mr.. Roosevelt saw this conflict a
long ago as when he vas in the Whit
House. He warned us that the storm
was gathering; he called aloud whel
the Balkan war broke upon the coun
tries Of Europe, he shouted when Ger
many invaded Belgium; he leapel
into the arena when the Lusitani
went down; he did not spare us, bu
cried aloud like some old prophe
Sanding on the heights OF 1udea d
the days OF Jerusalem's peril.
II believe that the eyes OF the ma
tion will be opened only by a grea
catastrophe; the price a nation Ia
10 pay to have its eyes opened is tn
sacrifice OF its best and bravest men
When the transports come HON
loaded TO the waters edge with on
wounded and maimed, our sick an
dying youths who have plunged int
the great lake OF liquid fire. then tn
blind will see. Then the eyes will b
opened. Then America will wake u
20 the sad mistakes Of these preciOu
hours that are being lost and for n
other reason than that men will nc
see the truth but stumble on in thei
own darkness. The great need toda
is that every man should cry as di
blind Bartimaeus Of old, Lord, ope
my eyes that l may see