The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-02-25

and expects a valiant sacrifice, from
he nations, that in their growing
wealth, were fast forgetting Him, as
a libation upon the altar or world
freedom.
Finally, my beloved, the challenge
Vt this present crisis is unmatched in
| world history. DO we realize that this
challenge is not solely directed to the
Nation, the church and great organi-
cations? The greatness of the whole
nation is intimately bound up with
its individuals, so beg AGAIN each
one of you, now to say to him elf or
herself-"This means me. 1t means
me and my life, my best self, my high
est ideals. if the solemn obligations Of
| the hour are to be realized" There
have been other days when selfishness
could find excuse in the smooth path
: way of ease because of a nations pros
perity, but the last shred CT such an
| excuse has now been torn from ever
selfish, undedicated life Gen. Joffre
is said TO carry in his pccket we'll
worn letter, written by French
mother to her son in Canada, which
he sometimes shows to his friends as
an indication of the shirt of France.
1t reads:
my dear Boy:
"You will be grieved to learn that
your two brothers have been killed.
Their country needed them and they
gave everything they had to serve her.
Your country needs you, and while |
am not going to suggest that you re-
turn to fight for France, if you do not
return at once, Never More"
Multitudes are living in that spirit
today. One must possess a callous
soul to pass through times like these
and not hear voice. whose call
man must hear, or lose his soul. Nero,
| fiddling while Rome burned, was a
statesman and patriot, compared to
the man that can look with indiffer-
| ence upon the world conflagration of
this moment. The nations are vast
ing away, while the Kingdom of God,
the cause of humanity and the per-
petuity of righteousness are having a
heavy battle in the earth-they need
you!
Eigth or nine months of the great
war have now touched the secret
springs of the American life. called
out unsupported gifts and lifted the
people to a spiritual level that must
he prophetic of a new era. Let us
begin now to ask, when the war is
over, in what direction is our life to
move? Old things shall have passed
away; all things shall have become
new. What sort of newness is it to
be? Is it to be the Christ ideal of
newsness. Alas, that will depend
largely upon the fidelity and passion
ate sacrifice of the church of Jesus
Christ.
Harry Lauder, the Scotch wit and
comedian, tells a very wonderful
story of his own regeneration and
that of others in the trenches. He
says England is being made new
England today. Before the war we
were leading a selfish old life. In
fact. one half Of us ate so much, that
we absolutely cared nothing for God
nor man. But men of England now
talk of God and Jesus Christ and spir-
ituality in G way that they have never
spoken before. This terrible war has
made men more religious. Now the
men CT England are ready to go to
all lengths ald to make all sacrifices
TO win the war for the freedom of the
world The boys in the trenches
know God. They sneak to God every
moment They know Him. He Ia a
part Of their life. There are no