Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-09

the toy or winuS ana tides that would
early destroy 1t IL 1t were not for brain
forces in the engine room and at the
wheel-forces in smaller compass vet full
of mastery.
No one need prolong his argument with
us about this We know the greater pow
err of the mind. And we know, 1 trust,
the still greater power Of the spirit
the mind is daily doing the bidding of the
heart and the will. Mighty as the forces
of lower and quite honorable levels are.
greater still is the force of noble pur-
pose, an intelligent and conscientious con.
viction, a lofty and persistent faith, a
pure and deep affection. When Luther
said, Here / stand can do no other"
he did not, though without cuirass or
helmet, speak in weakness. He spoke in
strength. What were hierarchies and
armies beside him And the force that
surged in his soul was of the same chem
istry as that Of his forerunner who said
II can do all things" And paul's force
was, as he rejolced to say, the force of
the Man Christ Jesus who taught that IL
one had faith as a little seed mountain
GUS difficulties might be swept aside; who
as he stood before the mob brought Il to
its knees by the force of his spirit: and
who took up the rude cross of shame and
made 1t by his power electric with a love
that shall yet save the world
We stand to-day at the most critical
period Of the worlds history, therefore
at the most critical period Of Americas
history; therefore, 1t may be, at the most
critical period Of your personal history
or mine-souls are so easily lost or saved
these days. Our Dothan is surrounded by
mighty legions Of iron and brass.
Do we ask ALAS what shall we do?'
We will open our eyes and see--looking
now in one direction, now in another.
First, there Is the ring Of our enemies.
1t is a giant force. equipped to the last
lace and rivet, thoroughly trained, sci
entifically brutal. without honor or con-
science or the capacity for covenanted
peace" inspired by Hohenzollern madness
and the Prussian philosophy that might
Is the supreme right and that peace is to
be loved only as an aid to war, bowling be-
fore the god Of its own make, and press
ing along the bloodest highway Of his
tory to satisfy It's lust for world
dominion.
LOOK FOR BETTER THINGS.
But there are better things To see. No
doubt 1t was uncomfortable for Elisha
and the young man to behold the char
lots Of the foe round about their hill
But what Of It! They could see also that
that hill, the very ground on which they
stood. was full Of horses and chariots
Of fire! This dear America Of ours, young
giant Of the West, has within her hand
all the great material forces. But she
has more. And we lift our eyes to see.
There stands prayer by which more things
are wrought than this world dreams Of;
there stands truth. bound to rise again
and prevail; there stands faith that stops
the mouths of lions and establishes king
doms; there stands hope that denies that
granite walls can imprison; there stands
love, the greatest Of these, love that
never faileth; there stands the living and
true God who is not only good, but also
the source Of infinite power: there stands
Jesus Christ not only forgiving but also
Transforming, whom the church Of all ages
follows not merely because Of his gentle
ness, but also because Of His invncible
dynamic.
We open our eyes and see that "they
that are with us are more than they
that are with them
But 1t is not enough to see these forces.
| II that IL our only relationship with
them we may go down with added sor-
row because Of our vision. Seeing them
we must claim them and link ourselves
with them. They stand ready to come
in, these decisive reserves, yet only If
and the II Is large-we are ready to use
them both intelligently and reverently.
Intelligently? We hear now and then OF
a British regiment that through the in
tensity of its religious faith Is bullet
proof. 1t is no more proof against bull.
let's than against folly and fanaticism
Shrapnel is no respecter Of souls. 1t is
the soldier who wears his helmet and
keeps his powder dry who honors his
trust in God. The chariots of fire roll
in to the aid of those level headed folks
| who make best use of chariots of wooG
and iron. We have called too little or
the mighty forces of the spirit, but better
not call on them at all than supinely
Realistically, rely on them only and alto
gether
Reverently? I mean that this higher
help does not come at any mans bidding
anywhere. There are weapons which
only clean hands can handle. Let US no
blame God when things do not 90 right
Things cannot go right IL the men ant
women to whom God entrusts them ar
not right. A decayed tree cannot stant
up in the storm that would serve only t.
strengthen a sound and lusty trunk. Ant
slaves of dissipation can hardly be made
over night, into souls Of heroic thought
purpose and stamina. The great force
of the spirit wait to fight side by sid
with those who by uprightness and faitl
give them large place and welcome II
the ranks.
Horses and charIots Of IRE are at ham
for those who believe in them. who Sc
them, who want them. who signal 70
their aid, and who will drive them II
intelligence and faith.
On Rvn AZ -
paredness is more than material. NOR
than mental, that it is also moral. tina
It Is also spiritual, and that ultimat
victory. in whatever field the battle lies
rests with those who. neglecting nothin
in the lower arsenals enter into clos
and abiding alliance with the highes
powers. Then we shall no moro sa
"Alas, alas" Then we shall fear not.
Then impossible" will be to US. as I
Mirabeau, that blockhead Of a word.
For then we shall behold that they tina
are with us are more than they tina
are with them; then shall We know tina
the heavier battalions are on our side.
!. Personal WORDS TO CLASS.
Q Women and men Of the graduating clas
| call you to your feet to congratulai
1 you that for these four years you haN
0 dwelt on this hill of vision, where chariot
of are are not unknown, and wher
J. beyond all that your hands have handled
n your souls have felt tho fnvigoratin
= breath of the unseen spiritual an
a eternal.
L But I not only congratulate you.
@ charge YOU. Honor always this old con
t monwealth Of Vermont whose green hill
i have been about you for your strengt
a | "a ,,,ntrot;or with unfatling and affe