The Washington herald., 1917-10-21
Washington and the Liberty
Loan.
By Rev. HUGH T. STEVENSON.


BY Rev. HUGH r. STEVENSON.
The following sermon was written
especially for The Herald by the Rev.
Hugh 7. Stevenson, pastor of the
Bethany Baptist Church. Second and
Rhode Island avenue northwest.
Text: Bring ye all the titles into
the storehouse, that there may oe
meat in mine house, and prove me
now herewith. saith the Lord of hosts.
II will not open you the windows OF
heaven, and pour you out a blessing.
that there shall not be room enough
to receive it. Malachi 3:1o."
Malachi condemned the men OF his
generation because of their skepti-
cism, sordidness, stinginess and sin.
He pointed out how they had tried to
turn the nation away from a faith in
God by their insidious propaganda,
claiming that there was no God. he
cause the nation was suffering which
was due to their delinquency in spirit
ual life. In answering their cynical
question that sought to undermine
the faith Of the masses in the love of
God the patriotic prophet presented
the incontrovertible proofs of Gods
grace and guidance in all the. epochal
events that had marked the history
Of the chosen people from the deliver
ance of Israel from Egyptian bondagc
w to their release from exile IN
Babylon. He illustrated the divine
love for Israel by contrasting Je~
hovah's attitude toward Edom. who
as a people. were unspiritual and self
sufficient. Although these two Seme-
tic nations were the offsprings accord
ing to their national traditions OF
twin brothers yet the long record of
war between these neighboring ma
tions reveals the tremendous differ
ences that separated these two >peo-
pie.
Speaking OF Jehovah as the Lord
of hosts, the God of battles, the
prophet calls for the chosen of God
to make some return for the bless
ings that had been bestowed upon
them. He had to overcome the in
sidious influence OF q sordid and
stingy clique who had enjoyed the
benefits of divine grace. but were un-
willing to make any offerings. They
had defrauded the Lord of what be-
longed to him and expected Ito get
by with it," saying, Where Is the
God Of Judgment" Malachi assured
the slackers who were unwillingly for
the glory of God to help sustain His
cause that the day of judgment would
come and that the Lord of hosts
would be "a swift witness against
the sorcerers and the adulterers and
the perjurers, against those who
wrong the hireling in his wage, and
the widow and the orphan, and op-
press the stranger, and fear not God.
Once more history repeats itself at
this hour when nearly the whole
world Is engaged in war. One of the
leaders has revealed not only the bar
barrie spirit of the Huns but also that
Of Edom because the German govern
ment has exhibited a spirit Of self
sufficiency, which without repentance,
humility and spiritual religion, has
hlled the world with a reign of terror
by the Kaiser-demonical determine
tion to force his autocratic rule upon
all nations. America stands forth
under the leadership of President Will
son who, as the champion of the
loftiest principles OF justice, human
lty and International law, is the
leader OF the forces that are contend
ing for the preservation of democ-
racy among men. The issue has been
Joined. Either America must sub
nit to the domination of the auto
cratic Hun or conquer him with the
aid Of the allies so that the govern
ment of people. by a people and for
the people shall not perish from the
earth. Americas hope for victory can
be based upon the fact that our Pres
ident has always maintained a high
moral and religious attitude during
the war.
Americas danger Is not from a
foreign foe or invasion. but from
the subtle, hypocritical coterie. who
evidently have been either tainted
by German gold or been perverted
by a misinterpretation of the mis-
sion of the Prince of Peace. In spite
Of their pretension of loyalty to
American ideals and principles, they
are traitors by their actions. No
man can count himself a true Amer
lean IL he is unwilling to make
some sacrifice to help win the war
against war. There is the need to
provide provisions for the forces
and families of the allies as well as
to supply men and munitions. It
Is to meet this need that the call
for the Second Liberty Loan has
been made by the nation.
At the young peoples meeting in
Bethany last Sunday night one
whose name is on the honor roll Of
those whom Bethany Baptist Church
Is sending forth to help win the
war for democracy told of how the
words of a stranger had impressed
him a few weeks ago while he was
waiting at the close of a weekend
upon a railway station platform to
return to Princeton to complete his
ground school training for the avia-
tion service. Patting him on his
back. the old man said: I'VE are
behind you,, boy" The answer of
America to the call to bring their
tithes into the storahouse by buy
ing liberty loan bonds will prove to
the men of the army and navy who
are engaged in fighting the nations
battles how much the country is be-
hind them. This is a crisis when
all must do their bit. 1t is an hour
when we can demonstrate our faith
in the principles OF democracy by
investing in the strongest and best
security ever offered. Let every
American try to buy a bond, even
If he has to do it by paying a tenth
for it every month. so that the
forces of the nation will know that
you are behind them. That message
will reach not only them, but IL
every lover of freedom will try to
do his bit then every bond they buy
VIII be "a direct letter to the