The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-27
RELIGION Of CHRIST
NEVER MORE NEEDED
DIR. Mott Declares Not Christians. But
Lack of Dominating Christianity.
Brought About Great War.
IT'S HORRORS HAVE CONFUSED
MINDS AND tTOUDFD FAITH
Founts OF Idealism and Education
Have Been Invaded and Universities
Robbed of Scholars ny the Call of
the Front.

This war is not caused by Chris
! tians, but by Christianity not having
itself SO under the dominance of
Christ as to prevent it," stated DR.,
John r. Mott. international secretary
OF the Y NJ c. A. Yesterday after
noon. in the second of his lectures on
the Thomas foundation at Richmond
college. His subject was. THE War
With Reference TO the Christian Re-
lision." DR.. F.. w Bostwright. presi-
dent of the college. introduced the
speaker.
First Hand Information.
"One of the great facts of the war
Is the economic exhaustion OF the ma
tons" and Or. Mott reinforced his
following statements by explaining
that he had been the guest. in Ger
finance department and that he had
gathered material from frst-hand
sources in other countries The aver
age daily expenditure last summer for
purely military and naval expenses
was one hundred and five million
dollars in gold. and the sum has in
creased to almost one hundred and
twenty million day. The devastation
of part OF Northern France and
Belgium alone has been estimated at
sly billion, not to mention the colos-
sal losses in Eastern Prussia, adj
jacent Russia and Poland.
Seventy Billions Spent.
The twenty greatest wars in the
last l25 years aggregated only twenty
billion dollars OF debt--this war has
already expended over seventy bill
lions and, according to the speaker
we'll not be through 1t when peace
is declared. but it will be a stone
around the peoples necks for another
hn frQfnNndnuG DriCH
being paid in vital and material forces
was thus statistically impressed.
You cannot spend more money in
two days in war than all the Southern
churches spend in mission Work IN
a year without touching Christianity.
A serious effect is the stopping and
weakening of so many good works
bearing Christ's name" DIR. Mott ex-
planned how the war had blotted out
some Of the best missions In Africa.
india, and Turkey. where mission
aries had either been forced to with
draw or the pupils to enlist Even
American missionaries have had to
give up their work, and this is Sc
rious loss of prestige In the eyes Of
the leaders of unchristian religions.
at is my belief that not until we
dwell on these facts more fully will
America do her duty. Christ. even.
taught we must count the cost. 1t
is more than flying out flags and
mobilizing men. If we will make a
psychological impression we will ia
ctlitate the end Of the war: II not,
It will drag on. / hope it will be
ended by Christmas. think we can
do It," said DIR. Mott, hut we can't
do It through the line OF least re-
sistance. We must not shut ourselves
off from the tragic facts"
Horrors Confuse Minds.
One great trouble with the war.
according to the speaker. is the fact
that Its horrors have confused the
minds and cloudcd the faith of so
many Christians in America and in
other countries. They cannot recon-
ellie the war with the teachings OF
Jesus. Innumerable questions on this
subject have been put to him. He
says: This war shows agnosticism
against man, not again4t God: ana
skepttcism against organised Chris
|tiantty. mot against pure Chriatianity.