Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-26
j. {. MUST MEET
ITS OBLIGATIONS
REV. VONCKX USES. PRESENT
WaR CRISIS FOP SUNDAY DIS
COURSE AT PRESBYTERIAN
URCR-EUROPE NEVER so
RELIGIOUS AS NOW.

ian church last evening. the subject OF
The sermon being Our National
Crisis. Mr. VouckX took his text
from Psalm 32.le. blessed is the Ma.
uaa whose Gcd is the Lord He said
in Fars.
1T IS no, 50 important to pray that
COO be GA orr side as that we should
be en- Gods side. far after all. things
work out His way.
ON January 3lst a national crisis
in cur history suddenly developed. \
Germaa SUBMARINE ma sunk the Sus-
sex, on which American lives were
lost. The President addressed Ger
mauY saying Unless The Imperial
Government should now Immediately
declare and eject an Abandonment ot
ifs present methods OF submarine war
tale mixing passenger and freight
vessels, without warning il Will be III.
cum eat upon tae United States to
saye, diplomatic relations. Germany
disayowed the intention and promised
abandonment of the practice Then
suddenly. without prior iutimation,
Germany withdrew the previous as
snraueo and the President severed
Diplomatic relations with the Teutonic
Government
The action of our nation concerns
humanity for centuries, whole peo-
pie. future Of nations. not our own
we'll being and the future Of this GOV
eminent alone. The possibilities can.
not be imagined We must face our
obligation which goes down TO princi-
pies of righteousness and truth, our
obligation to get into world service,
even tho it might necessarily mean
wa. into which we coua 50 with full
consciousness Of God; a spiritual OBJ
legation, so tar as we individually are
concerned, to give God a larger part
in our American life. 1t viii mean
more Divine direction for the Presi-
dent and Congress to meet the situa-
ticn.
~ Europe had enough vital religion
there would be no war now. Ottawa
needs religion not religious sympa-
thy, not church attendance, mere for
malities, but God first in home church
and political life.
"Ottawa's need is Americas need,
the need oil the whole world Europe
Is more religious today than it has.
been for years, has never seen the day
when people went to church in the
spirit Of today. In the trenches chap
els are dug out and men gather TO
hear the message, with tears courslng
down their cheeks. knowing that in
an hour they will 10 forth to service
In the trenches, perhaps TO death.
Pack home they are going to
church in q spirit never before known,
thinking OF father brother sweetheart
in the trenches whose lives may be
taken any minute. the spirit we all
should have knowing we are facing
death Europe has turned to God.
THE ultimate cause of the present
war IS the lack of a vital religion the
great need, also of America America
j. pleasure mad, money mad. Soon
spring will come aad people will go
here and there to have a good time
and the church peWs will not be as
full as they are here tonight. Give a
man q chance to make some money on
Sunday and wonder how many there
are who would say i can't do it today
come tomorrow
God forbid a war should be neces-
sary to turn us out OF our Indifference
rather may we turn TO Him with re-
neWed conservation. We should pray
faithfully for the President and Con
gress, that Divine wisdom be given
them and may what they decide to do
be right in Gods sight, be it peace or
war
At TIE Baptist Church.
Lat evenings service at the First
Baptist church served TO interest a
congregation Of more than two hun.
dred people Speaking on the sub
iect War IN America and from the
text found in jeremiah 5):22, a
sound of battle is in the land" Rev
G w Chc3sman said in part;
War is raging in the United States
Of America in this very hour. Thr
big guls Of prohibition are winning
victory. Rum is on the run The
white troops have swept VIGOROUSLY
over twenty-five states of the union
The states are going dry A genera
in the army Of the enemy said seyera
months ago 10 check the temperance
sentiment we must elevate the sd
vember 7th last an election shell OK
ploded and blew up the saloons o
Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota AM
Michigan Some day soon the bigges
gun In the United States Of Amcric
which Is now being forged, viii b
touched off, and victory win be com
plete. the manufacture and sale q
alcoholic beverages will no prohbite
> IN the United States Of America b.
, constitutional amendment The day
! Of booze are numbered; the hant
writing Is on the wall, and II is genel
y allv RECOGNIZED by friend and foe.
: 'The signs Of the times reveal pow
l. erful fighting forces lining up wit
= r-chibition-- medical fraiernities, raj