Evening journal., 1918-04-16

From one point Of view, it seems TO
some that the war is going against US,
and that we will lose in defeat. It so
appears to our enemies, which is evil
dent from their more united demands
for a peace by force, a German peace,
and by their bolder assertions that we
and our Allies must pay for all dam
ages caused by the war, fully reim-
bursting the countries arrayed against
u.s.
Il so appears to some of our own peo-
pie, who argue that Germany has car
ried everything in the Balkan district
that Russia has collapsed, that the Eng
lish and French have been routed from
their fast fortincations in the West,
the enemy Is still on the gain and the
under-sea boat is unchecked. And, we
must confess, that to many this day
is one Of darkness and despair.
We may even admit that the eXter-
nal signs are largely against us. Yet
there is another point Of view that
brings the end nearer and makes our
victory sure. We might array certain
OF our accomplishments against Ger
man historical facts that set at naught
such temporary achievements as the
Geological or better, spiritual reasons
which, once grasped. show that the
turning point Is nearing and that our
victory is sure.
First, look historically upon the sub
iect Every great war in the worlds
history has continued to desperation,
20 the point when the winning side
seemed all but defeated, even as when
ID
and his appeal and the tenth legion
turned the balanced scales The rea-
son OF this is deeply concealed in in
ner causes. Let US try to make il APP
pear.
The world is but a larger individual
and what in this regard Is true Of the
individual is equally true Of the aggre-
gate. The world war is a world temp
tation, governed by the same laws that
operate In individual temptations and
trials. With this simple fact as a
starting point, the whole problem can
be comprehended
Temptations and trials are means OF
removing our evils and weaknesses
The only way that one can discover
his weaknesses or his latent evils IS
by trial. The divine purpose in temp
evils, see them clearly, confess them
and then, through power derived from
the Lord, put them away. Temptation
is the time OF the exctation Of one S
evils. The excitation Of evil continues
until one is brought TO naught, sees
that he is about TO be -Spst that evil
win destroy him body mind and SOUL
If not resisted Thus, seeing the de-
81 a. r.T rsHF hf.sr ar1.
he is, he summons the power TO put
evil away. Individual temptations con-
tinue 70 the midnight Of despair The
reason is obvious, namely: That no mar
IN his own strength can deliver him
self He must turn to the only source
Of power, which Is God, and In Hi
name. conquer
Now II a man knows this, he doe
not give up because temptations wea
him out. and bring him 10 the borde
OF destruction. He knows the psyche
logical order Of internal powers an
through faith in final victory, he pre-
serves throughout the midnight darl
ness until the spiritual sun rises.
Apply these same principles 10 ou
conditions today. When this war start
ed, there was much confusion as {
iis cause. The atmospheres have nov
cleared, and we see that a great ey
was being fostered in the heart OF tn
world; the evil love Of dominion, On
love Of robbing others and enslayin
them for self-yictory. II one had tol
us five years ago that such evils a
have been disclosed 10 exist in prus
sian autocracy could be found any
where upon the earth, he would hav
been met with scorn. To be convince
OF the wickedness that was slumbel
ing in human hearts, it had TO be eX
cited, break forth, and make known II
nature and existence.
Love OF dominion has never bee
thought to be very wicked We hay
had a little Of It ourselves, doubtless