The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-10
CRISIS
ST|FFENS
SENTIMENT
Church Folk Pledge
Anew Allegiance to
the Country
DO NOT REGARD
PEACE AS A CAUSE
Distinction Drawn Be-
tween Pacifsm and
Love of Peace
By the RELl5IoUs RAMsLER.


present moment ia RELIC Gus circles
can compare with The question 81
llhc Christian attiiudr toward the
national crisis. There II a distinct
Is rcllgicas aspect ot The present
grave situation IL is Of utmost
! Importance that The real sentiment
oi he rank ard ale 81 clefgymen
and church officers should BE-
known &c everybody.
FIRST ard foremost stands out the
part that certain Oflcials OF ="
llcious organizations, men pro'cs-
sing 20 be spokesnlen for all the
churches. have taken In the paclnst
propaganda. which has had 50 eX'
,raordinarT an effect upon con
gress. Bodily declaring. despite
the practice and position OF the
church for 70 centuries. that Chris
tianity fayors extreme paciiism,
this relatively small group 81 mcr
and women have created a corlmo-
ton out OF all proportion 10 their
real influence Because they are
small group. shd highly organized.
they are therefore mobile and Quick
10 act Supported by huge endow-
ments. they have had the "sinews
% war for a campaign OF pacifsm
that has been really a remarka bic
demonstration OF efficiency.
Only the editors OF the religions
press fully know ths extent OF this
literary propaganda. Even the con
sressmen have scarcely been de-
luged with a greater number Of
these prepaid kilograms OF plea and
protest. The secretArial and cler-
zeal stats I'm New York have
work ed overtime in putting out this
canned sentiment
There has been no counter dem
oastrstion. None o. the denoming
tons which alone can speak OF.
| cialiy for the churches-has taken
any action on the matter. spar'
from early sentiments % q gen
cral nature. desiring peace. ut
, tered before he Gcrman-Americar
q Issue became acute In the ab
senCe Of any omclal utterance ?,
the contrary. the purlfsts have mo-
4 hesitated to declare that theirs g.
y the position Of the churches
n Row the Churches Stand.
Il over Against an thls frenzied az
iivity and expression Of the paciis
group has been the quiet assump
tion Of many ministers. and othe
strong men. that some things q
without saying. and that nobody 4
\ taking the pacinsts seriously.
l why should We declare on
y steadfast loyalty 10 the govern
ment. or our historic position ths
III there are some things worth hEhi
ina FOR. some causes more sacre,
han life" these men have res
soned That should be taken 20
a granted The men % the churehe
!, are not making much noise. but Il
- sober. thoughtful resolute conyiC
ton that they are standing read
"a for the old ideals for which Chris
tianity and civilization have battle
- turnout the ages
Probably the sentiment Just quo
ed expresses the dominant though
Of the churches. Nevertheless. 4
/, the past few weeks there have bee
n quiet conferences 10 consider wheti
er the pacihst propaganda shoul
o. not be disowned by representative
e OF the churches Not a few me
"a have seen In Il real dlsloyalt,
They have been an insidious dispa
" aEement OF America. Whether m
~ p4cinsts realize the fact or not. the
:. are pulling on the same rope wit
~ the kaiser Their activities hav
~ halted and confused the action {
the government
A clear distinction Is being draw
= between pseinsm and love Of peaei
: The pacinst would stop the va
- now. He would keep America OF
= Of II. al all costs. Re regards wa
:. az the worst % all evils. And n
- confuses absence Of armed strii
). with real peace
30 On the other hand, the lover
~ peace who IL not a pacinst regard
- peace. not az n cause. but as an .
,o feet OF certain great principle
H.. Only when 'rightcousness an
y peace have kissed each other" a
IA the Scriptural phrase has n "a
n there be real tranquility IN huma
10 society This ideal puts justice an
K. righteousness and truth aboy
peace for their sakes a nation ma
20 10 war Indeed. failure 20 DO :
Is might b. real betrayal % m
~. cause Of ultimate and permaner
- peace
be- one who travels widely notes m
au prevalence OF American nags alonI
g side the pulpits Of 'he churches an
.. In the Sunday schools The ma
be eLiblems are being worn increa
ingly. Meetings OF a religious cha