Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-25
WHY DOES NOT
COD END THE WAR?
DR.. Thompson Answers
Christianity Must be
Given Fair Chance
NO PEACE UNTIL
RIGHTEOUSNESS WINS

why does not Iou chu lnc war
This was the question discussed by
the Rev. A. H. Thompson in St Paurs
Methodist Episcopal Church last
evening DIT. Thompson said
This question was asked by Sun
day School scholar. IA, Of his teacher.
II is asked by others Of older growth.
As propounded by come 1t IS a subtle
attack on Christianity; such one is
ex-Presidont Eliot, Of Harvard, who
says that the war is proof that Chris
tianity is a failure. To this attack Car
dinal Gibbons has made an elaborate
reply, showing what must be apparent
to every thoughtful mind. that man
must be wilfully blind 70 the facts to
mako such a statement He shows
how Christianity has steadily eX-
erted sofening influence upon civili-
Kation, and points TO hospitals alone as
q sufficient reiutation OF the charge
fThe tendency of Paganism Is to
war, while that OF Christianity Is 70
peace Rome, in seven hundred
years. has had seven years OF peace
The United States. In one hundred
years. has had only ten years of war.
The amellorating influence OF |
Christianity upon war itself is shown /
BY contrasting Titus and General /
Grant
The one slew a million Jews az the /
destruction OF Jerusalem. expatriatng /
thousands more and compelled these |
slaves to build a monument to him IN
the Eternal City. While Grant gem
erously said TO tho conquered foe.
Take your horses. you'll need them
FOR the spring blowing, and sternly
depressed those who proposed retail
iatory measures.
ION the tomb OF Titus. the brute
there CLEANS The Glory Of Mankind
while from Grants there shines the
immortal words Let Us Have Peace
1T may be added that Christianity
IS in no wise responsible for the
present war for any OF the evils Of
society which are all contrary 70 It's :
spirit and teachings Christianity
has never been given a chance. The
roots OF tho present war lie far in
the past Secret diplomacy. kings.
clashing interests, racial hatred born
OF previous wars. have much 70 do
with t. In the last analysis human
selfishness will be found az the bot
tom. Sin is the fundamental cause Of
world misery Man thinks himself
independent Of God, and insanely
goes his own way. AS long as this
thought controls his conduct present
conditions will continue We have
never yet had Christian community,
much less n Christian State. Until
we do tits the height of presumption
to call Christianity a failure. Tho
ep' gxam OF G.. X Chesterton expresses
thAtruth: Christianity has not been
tf5ed and found wanting. Il has been
Mound difficult and not tried
There are but two ways I'm which
God could end war. The one Is by viO-
lence the other is by Cancellation God
might send famine earthquakes. fire.
flood and pestilence, and so afflict the
combatants that they would be COM
PEELED TO stop. We're He TO do this ,
He would be making war. God must ,
be a warrior Himself In order 10 end
var by violence. But He cannot re-
sort TO violence, human personality
S sacred. Man is made in Gods
mage, and God must respect Himself
Coercion Is impossible without
Hanging human and divine nature.
God cannot more stop the war than a
'ather can prevent son going 10 de-
5truction. The father can warn and
plead. but he can go no farther. n
The son refuses to heed the father
can only lament as David lamented
over the hayward and headstrong Abb
SALON. God has pleaded His SUI
preme plea is Christ and His great
sacrifice. He hath spoken in these
last days by His son. II we refuse 20
hear Him the case is hopeless. He
shows the way Il IS love as, God
loves. Il is this which excites a hor-
TOR OF war. and which viii hnally end
war Each for all and all for each
Is the law OF Christianity.
"A brotherhood bound together by
mutual affection is the Christian ideal.
This Is the divine method and il Is
the only permanent method Of ending
wars horrors
God never does for man what He
can do for Himself AS human folly
and sin began war, human wisdom
and righteousness must end Il.
The present war has so fully shown
the utter futility OF mans method that
II but accentuates our need OF the d.
vine. In the words OF Bernard Shaw.
Il is time TO give Christianity a I
trial