The Washington herald., 1917-12-09
The HeraId's Special Sermon

cast whether Il WIN be n World
democracy or q theocracy. An we
know is that Jesus Christ wiz sbe
king. II win be q glorious civfliEa-
ton dominated by the mauiferfaftoo
Of His Peace" NY peace 4 give
unto you. not a. the world eiveths
A speaker OF international fame re-
Gently said: "The church Il SUM
moned 10 sound the note OF hone.
The great function Of Christians IN
the darkest hour is 70 proclaim the
coming dawn, to 60 out with the
only gospel the world has ever
known which teaches that love shall
conquer hate. that light shall dissi-
pate darkness, that good shah tn
umph over III, that where sin does
abound nationally and internation-
ally, grace shall much more abound"
Christianity is TO triumph
The second criticism is not % easily
answered You must nrst Determine
what u q Christian lifeI II "a not
merely the practice Of the common
moralities. It IL not simply the mental
acceptadon Of q creed. II IN not the
mere observance OF an ordinance. One
may DO all Of these and yet not Be q
CHRISTIAN The Christian life a. the
creation Of a mind. and the mind must
be Hike that Of our Lord Let this
mind be in you which vAas also In
Christ Jessus." Forgiveness a a car
dinal virtue in q Christian That In
not to be q mere mood but q mind II
is the willingness to forgive as soon as
the conditions are met It 10 freedom
from malice and desire for revenge.
The need Of forgiveness implies injury
and there can be no forgiveness until
wrong IL confessed. but the mind Of
forgiveness only awaits the oppor-
tunity TO forgive. God can work that
miracle In every one Of uA
We have been called upon b this
crisis TO nght IN order to preserve our
liberties We were forced into this
struggle, but every moment q Chris
! tan Ia IN the war he must have the
mind OF forgiveness Our Lord was
the personihcation Of this teaching,
: saying a. he died. Father, forEive
them for they know not Whist they
| do
1t is appalling for q Christian man
or minister 70 announce the doctrine
OF hatred II is criminal for anyone
TO say that patriotism can never be
aroused until we learn 10 hate our
enemies. The harvest from such seed
sowing will be that OF blood and re
venge. The miracle is that our Lord
can give us the mind that viii pray
for them that despitefully use us.
Then there must be the mind Of
love. Not Q mere mood or passing
| fancy. Not q sentiment but a mind
! Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy mind. and thy neighbor
as thyself." President Wilson de-
clares that the heart Of this nation IL
In the war. Whyf Because we are In
1t with no desire for aggression. but
only 70 serve humanity. II that a the
spirit and motive which actuates Us
as q people, there can be but one ter-
nination- II Il q Christian war. n
remains to be seen II we, a. q nation.
conduct Il In Christian fashion We
hear the cry for reprisalh I trust our
allies and our nation win nght this
war on the lofty principles Of humani-
ty. Because our enemies are brutal
there is no reason why we should be.
We must fight this war az Christiana
Our duty, whatever that may Be does
not prevent US being Christians We
must serve for love Walking the
quarterback Of q nan-of-wsr. stoS-
ing in the bowels Of q battIeship-
Sighting the gun which Is to carry
death to the enemies OF Righteousness.
| S"AAAB OH NAS pdgdL1de LOI I0Oeo VINO
carry arms at the front and who fght
for US All must be done m love q
we are Christians
These arc evil dayA
| We are called 20 be Chrisc1ans m
the midst OF our tasks, and we can be.
Called to live that hfe just where We
are In the army. In the navy. In
the nunition factories, m the trench
es. In the Office and in the ho1na By
the grace OF God. we oan. ! call you
not to shirk your duty. but I urge you
to go into the strife with the mind
that was IN our Lord The mind which
finds its expression m forgiveness and
love.
We can Be Christians evsn under
the present day eorditionA