Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-23
WAR IMPOSES DUTIES
UPON ALL THE PEOPI f,
In Sermon at Second Presbyterian Church. Rev. Russell
Cecil, ID. d., Favors Universal Service-How
War May Prove Blessing.

and from these duties we must not
| shrink.
wish now to speak OF some prob
able results of this war. II II is con-
Quoted I'M the name of God, and in the
cause OF justice and liberty, and with
Ia high sense OF duty, ! believe that
II will result in 4 blessing to our pco-
pie. This does not mean that II will
not entail an immense amount OF evil,
suffering and sorrow.
WAR WILL. DEEPEN
THE FAITH on MEN
believe it will deepen the faith of
men. We will learn somewhat Of the
| meaning OF that expression In the
Scriptures. The Lord is Il man OF war"
This means. of course. that God is
opposed to evil and oppression. and that
His power is cNcrted in behalf of those
who struggle against wrong, and who
arc endcavorinE to secure liberty for
the people.
This war in which VIC arc now en-
! Gagged is waGcd in the interest Of free
dom and righteousness, and God will
bless the people who are willing to
fight. lie will bless them with faith
In Him. think men will learn moro
than ever that God does not forsako
those who trust in Him and those who
arc willing to suffer that truth and
Righteousness may prevail. Some may
lose their faith because in the midst
OF the awful suffering and strife they
forget the everything hand of God and
| the great and noble issues that arc at
stake But there is reason to believe
that in this war God is working out
great purposes for the salvation Of the
world.
Another blessing OF this war will
be that II Will impose the necessity of
! the practice OF economy upon the peo-
| pie. and Will he a rcbuke to the great
/ luxury in which many have been liv-
| ins. The war will call Il halt, and
no doubt many incomes will be rcduc-
/ ed. and many who have been living en-
| tircly for themselves will be under
| the necessity OF doing something for
others, and for tho sake OF the cause.
WILL NEED TO PRACTICE
ECONOMY IN OUR HOMES
| We need TO practice economy In our
! homes, in our business. and in all the
walks of life We need also t. study
| efficiency in the conduct OF affairs
| How important il is that our young
1 people should be taught to do the
| things they do we'll. and out of high
/ sense OF duty-in tho name OF God
Our careless, shiftlcss. eXtravagant
| way OF living has been q curse TO the
country, and unless this curse is ar
rested will finally end in disaster
The war should foster. also. the Gull
tivation of higher Ideals. The danger
in our land is that we shall become too
| materialistic. The accumulation OF
wealth and comfort threatens to alb
sorb the thought and the effort of our
people. The rich among US were grow
ing richer. and the poor poorer. Large
masses of the people are becoming
/ moro and more dissatisfied AS they see
some classes OF our people idle and
| luxurious, wasting money. while they
themselves arc barely able to secure
enough TO keep the wolf from the
| door. our society has been disturbed
! by strife between labor and capital.
The war will tend TO equalize things
II VIII make men OF different classes
study their common Interest, ant: re-
gard themselves all alike as citizens
OF the one country, who arc to share
its prosperity and its dstresses to-
gether. we will have TO understand
each other better. and we will have 10
eNalt spiritual ideals more than we
have been doing.
TEACHES UNsELFTSUNEss
AND BROTHERLY SPIRIT
1t will he a good thing for this coun-
try to release a large amount Of its
! wealth for the help of the nations
abroad. II will be conducive TO large
mindedness. unselishncss and brotherly
love. Spiritual relivion. cannot thrive
II we give way TO materialism, if we
train up our children to believe their
main object in life is to accumulate
wealth, to live in fine houses, with fine
eGulpages. and with nothing to dis
turb their daily search for pleasure.
! Var is destructive of life and property:
/ II is fearful thing TO think OF. and
yet il is also destructive of many evil
influences. II has "A SOLDERING effect
upon tho minds OF the people
| Again the war will have tendency
| TO br NJ the world nearer together.
! IT viii bind us closer TO the nations
/ in Europe, and it will bind them closer
! TO us The earth is growing smaller.
/ J ne means Of transportation are being
/ 30 randy improved that distance is
/ annihilated. aud WI soon realize
more than we have ever done the mean
/ ing Of the Apostle Paul's remark in
I his address on Mars Hill, at Athens:
/ God hath made OF one blood all ma
( lions OF men for 10 dwell on all the
/ face OF the earth.