The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-30

reported and universally comment
ed upon in the early stages OF the
war. Then it was said that France
has found her soul" and the phrase
was used as meaning that France
was experiencing a religious re-
vival. Stories were told of crowd
ed churches that had long been neg
lected, of atheists formally repu-
dating their unfaith, OF an entire
nation turning from cynicism and
infidelity in new reverence to the
church of its fathers. And those
stories were true, and certain phases
of the mood they represented per-
sist to the present moment.
But there is no revival here.
The spiritual exaltation of those
first soulawakening days OF the
war, when the struggle was seen
4 primarily in the large and in the abb
stract, as between the spirit OF
darkness and the spirit OF light, has
passed away. Now it is complicat-
ed by dreary months and years OF
individual experiences of the weigh
and woe of war. Much of the
bouyancy and ebullient confidence
of those early months has given
way to dogged resolution and en-
durance. Frances spirit is by no
means broken; now, however, she
is simply seeing the thing through.
Her purpose has been heightened
bv these months of bitter realiza-
ton of the character Of the enemy;
and her hold upon the spiritual
ideals involved in the war is strong
er than ever. But she has lost much
of her ardor for the religious aspect
of the struggle.
France is not today thronging her
churches. A host of persons go
regularly to the stated occasions OF
worship, and there may be found a
few reverent visitors to the princi-
pal city churches at almost any
hour of the day, but the people as
a whole have not taken on the
church-going habit. When the
kaiser's shell from the long-range
gun on Good Friday killed and
wounded great company OF per-
sons its power was enhanced byl
the fact that it hit the one church
in Paris most famous for its music.
That accounts also for the large
proportion of foreigners among the
dead and injured. ] have been IN
more than one historic church IN
France where the big gun could not
reap anv considerable toll of wor-
shippers. There are church-goers,
| repeat, but the nation is not
church-going.
What War Does to Spirits.
War wears away the keener edge
of sensibilties. 1t is beyond the
capacity of the human spirit to
maintain the tension which nations
display at the outset OF hostilities.
lust as France and Britain have
Yong since got beyond the flag-wav-
ing, demonstration stage OF patri-
otism in which America still finds
herself, so they also are past the
period of acute self-examination and
spiritual exhileration which attend
ed the first comprehension of the
essentially religious character OF
the goals for which they are fight
ing. America may as well reckon
at once with the fact that the mood
of exaltation which attends the in
auguration of the war will not last.
l will be followed by period OF
resolute determination, and steady
Carrying on which is really nobleT.
Provision. doubtless, could maintain
certain OF the more tangible relig-
ious aspects the first stage OF
the great experience.
1t may be an open question wheth-
er the new spirit OF France is not
finer than the first stage OF re-
ligious righteousness. and for indi-
vidual ministry. is certainly stronger
in France today than it was four
years ago. This chastened nation,
with the fine qualities which all the
world honors, has, in deeper mean
ing than was at first meant, found
her soul" She has undergone 4
Gethsemane experience, but out OF
it is coming a nobler nation.
Ministry to the Men.
There is an added incentive in
these nations which have been long
est in the war TO carry on greatly.
They have given hostage to their
best to battle. There is scarcely
home in France that has not its
grave to cherish. One sees over
1ere shop windows devoted entirely
o mourning goods. There is abroad
n the land the feeling that these
lead shall not have died in vain.
As patrician lady in Paris said
o me one day, "Of course we must
continue TO fight until a complete
-ictory is won: otherwise | would
lave given my two sons in vain.
As everyone else that | have been
IN the battlefronts. | find in France
growing expression OF religion in
erms of ministry TO the soldiers.
This passion for service is all alb
orbing. Soldiers have right OF
ray in all things. Their comfoT:
omes first. To serve them, and
he refugees from the battle zone.