The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-30
SHALL We DRINK CUP?
SAYS EAST END PASTOR
OF America Stands Ready
to Make Sacrifice in Time
of War.
HAVE 4 RIGHT TO BE HEARD
Rev. Roger l.. Clark breaches Force
full Sermon on "a Mothers Plea"
In Third Christian Church.

ful sermon on "A Hothcr'S Plea"
In Third Christian Church.
| In his sermon yesterday morning
| in Third Christian church, Rev. Roger
| L. Clark referred to woman's part
! in the present war, especially in re-
lation to the apparent apathy and the
unfriendly Influences against enlist
ment In the army and navy. The text
was the Lords answer TO Salome's
plea for her sons, found in Matt. 90
1923. The part in reference to the
war follows:
This is an hour OF trial, not only
/ for that part of our citizenship which
shall actively enter into battle, but
for the noblest and most useful Of
Jour citizenship-the mothers OF the
boys OF our army and navy. Our
mothers have right to be heard
Injured to sacrifice and to full years
of toll In producing this manhood.
they are in the center of the conflict
of love with duty, ease with honor.
selfishness with patriotism They
shall make a sacrifclal surrender of
! themselves through the answer Of
their sons. No hugle blast shall spur
mother into battle; no shrek OF shell
shall infuriate her into the strength
of strife; the incessant excitenents
and fellowships of the army will not
sustain her in comradeship: hers is
TO be the long, weary waiting for the
letter from the trenches. hers rne
dread expectancy of the word con-
corning the dead the wounded and
the missing; hers the fellowship of
tears. These nights hold little rest
for mother; these days are full of
1 that portent of parting which some
near tomorrow shall bring II Is
easier to march away to the drum
and buEle than TO stay when alt that
you love best is gone: il is even easier
to die in the glory Of conflict rnan
to await the issue and receive the
dead--Rachel weeping and comfort
less. O blessed he tho missions and
ministries OF mercy to fill the long
days and employ the mother-heart of
America!
Right of Motherhood.
We are not the less patriotic be-
cause we recognize the right of our
Notwithstanding nations greatest re-
source. Every soldier offered for
slaughter is produced by the travail
OF some woman's soul. But to what
end did she bear him into the world >
"Our Lord asks the same question
Consider this reply TO Saiome: You
ask that your sons may take the chief
places IN My kingdom; but, first of
ali. / ask You, What are they fitted
for Before they can occupy a place
near the throne Of My kingdom they
must share with Me in kind the CON
dict out OF which the kingdom is TO
grow. They must become like Me
Can they drink the cup l drink? Are
they able to receive the baptism !
shall undergo
And saiome's sons said: We are
able
How hard II Is 70 realize that the
hour Of decision IL here We have
read so much Of the war that it's hor-
rors have become commonplace. Be
cause II was so far away. this novel
reading, fiction hungering public has
treated It rather as an exciting ro-
nance. War profits and high wages
have lulled as into sense OF false
security The paciast and the German
have employed every recourse to
break the morale Of our love of lib
effF and justice. The slogan which
earned this purbiind country for our
president last fall was: He kent ms
out OF war We thought OF blood
shed In terms ~ others. We clfpped
coupons and smiled smurly.
in moment our sleep liz broken.
I we are az MAR We did not under
stand thar man In the White House
lie was not keeping as out OF war.
nc was seeking n battle plane upon
/ the heights OF altruism lie has SGT
4 the world afro with the love OF ms
/ nee and democracy He has called
/ this nation into war for the sake nr
those with whom we are at war %
serve the German peoples themselves
/ IN the establishment OF a new ora
or Freedom. And that there may he
law and liberty on earth in n lasting
{
to forswear all desire for conquest. or
Indemnity. and 10 fight the issue out
IN good VIII to our enemies
Had No Alternative
We had an alternative. we could
/ have kept out Of this war. Some
said; This is not our fight BY toier-
ating the oath breakers who have
violated every treaty when to their
4 advantage, by submitting 10 the
pirates waving the black flag over the
graves OF our fellow-citzens they
/ ruthiessly drowned in the seas: by
hugging in affectatiou these professed
! friends who were plotting to despoil
/ our country and 10 barter our terri
/ tory with enemies they should stir
up against us--yes, we could have
kept MT peace. Ii would have been
the peace Of moral cowardice. And
the bloated ~osperity which would
have been a prosperity like that of
swine at the swil-trough
IF this nation is. indeed. dedicated
/ TO the high ideals OF democracy: If
we respect the ties which bind us in
| human brotherhood. IT, hating war.
we would put an end to war. let us
| pay the price. And the price of JUS
| tice and democracy and a lasting
| peace Is not too high, even if it ex-
haust the life and treasures OF the
whole world for generation
I'VE have come to such an end--s
| world end. To return to medieval
! feudalism. with the Hohenzollerns
| overlooking a world OF serfs. is I'M
/ thinkable. We are a. the end of the
rule OF the masses at the caprice Of
the classes. We are laboring in the
| birth of new conception of the
i divine right OF government We are
/ approaching the world parliament OF
man. Henceforth government is to
f,tn cff oil, he III +