Evening journal., 1918-11-16
The Deeper Meaning of the War
BY fhe Rev. George Henry Dole

I length that the wars OF the last century
have been Matchmaking wars. The
NapOleonlc wars broke up the baronies
and established nations. Our Civil
War united the states In an indlssolv-
able nation, and there ~ is stated,
This world war Is precisely like our
Civil War, only on a larger scale. The
Divine Providence has the same end
in view always. Out Of thc world war
VIII be born larger amity, love that
VIII regard the welfare OF other nations
with the same good will that one exer-
cises toward his own country. We have
not desired TO enter the war. We have
been drawn into the world war that II
might be a world war, and that out OF
that war may come a world amlty, a
larger love. world union in effecting
a world peace. The Bible assures us
that the time will come when men VIII
beat their swords into plowshares and
their spears into pruning hooks, and
the nations viii study war no more
The world has come 10 that point In rs
development in Christian brotherhood
when the greatest step In this direction
Is now being taken"
Because the world has advanced
through wars Just as the individual re-
generates by means Of temptations and
Divine Providence appears after the
midnight hour, we wero able 20 say, In
The Evening Journal OF April 70, 1918
when Russia had been turned against
us, when Italy had broken, when the
western line had been shattered, and
the stOlld English nation was crying,
- al. -.
to our aid" these things, now proved
true; namely:
ITO many this day Is one OF darkness
and despair external signs are
largely against us Yet there Is
another view Every great war
in the worlds slstOry has continued TO
desperation The world war Is
world temptation, governed by the
same laws that operate in individual
temptations Tho nature OF the
love OF dominion had 20 be exposed 10
unite the nations against Il &.
Now Il has done its worst d.
And now TO save civilization. the world
will unite, rise and subjugate the evil
at its origin the victory Will
surely come. Psychologlcally, midnight
now brOOds over the world, and the
light VIII soon break" Now complete
ly the love Of dominion is now subiu-
gated at is origlnl How glorlously
the sun OF righteousness now shines
The Word also says that "The clouds
are the dust OF His feet" The clouds
Of battle are but the dust stirred by the
feet Of the coming Son Of Man We can
see through the clouds, and behold the
Lords coming in the spirit, ushering In
new age. establishing the angelic
proclamation at His birth. peace on
earth; good viii toward men," In short,
we can understand the world war as
nothing other than the unfolding OF Di-
vine Prophecy and the establishment OF
the Lords kingdom through national
temptation and the victory Of justice.
We all now have vital part In
fastening the universal reign OF justice
and peace. To do our part, everyone
should cOnscientlously believe in the
possibility Of perpetual peace through
Justice. Indeed II Is the duty Of every
Christian so 10 believe: for genuine
faith is not 20 believe in the actuality OF
any historical event. but TO believe in
/ the possible fulnllment OF the Gospel
/ taught by the Lord Jesus. For u is an
unfailing law now. According TO your
faith, so be 1t done unto YOU"