Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-12

claims of his imperial majesty. 1t is
the most damnable circle of atheistic
conspiracy that the ages have known.
Nevertheless the preachers of Ameri-
ca never uttered an indictment
! loud enough to cause the male mem
bers of their churches to foozle drive
the country club"
| This indictment against the Ger
man preachers is undoubtedly Justi-
| fed by the facts as will presently De
shown. but the general and indiS-
! Criminate assault upon the loyalty, or
the manhood and patriotism of the
American preachers is clearly unwar-
ranted, according to the reply of Mr..
AtWater, rector of the Episcopal
church at Akron, o., who says in the
April Atlantic, that the clergy spoke
and spoke plainly. No one man,
no matter how eloquent. could have
produced the smallest fraction Of the
result that the thousands of clergy
produced in interpreting the deeper
issues Of the war; &" that 1T
has not been the example of the
flower of this nation to offer them
selves for service overseas; but he
claims fit has been the churches and
the clergy, with the remnant of de-
voted laity, who are an honor 20
themselves and our race, who have
built the foundations of justice, pa
triotism. Righteousness and truth in
to the fabric of rising manhood" And
in conclusion he asserts that the
complete representative of The
American church today is the United
States army overseas"
IL the complaint against the
churches on the one hand was with
out justification and the tributes Of
praise and honor on the other hand
are eXtravagant i'll statement, it can
not be controverted that religious
conventions in America, of all denom-
nations, moved by the inspiration Of
truth and justice. as we'll as the com
mon impulsive of patriotism and hui
manity, have uniformly spoken in
scathing denunciation of the cruel
and dctestable military autocracy
that precipitated this war, and with
resolute loyalty and no upcertain
sound, have justified and commended
the action of the free peoples who
are fighting gloriously for their own
rights and existence as nations, as
we'll as for the freedom and civiiza-
ton Of the world.
1t is unfortunately true that IN
eli
may be two or three conscientious but
! spineless pacifists, or radical and ir-
Irresponsible Socialists, who have
abandoned themselves wholly to an
! impractical idealism. and utterly fail
TO comprehend that this war of self
defense on our part is life and
death struggle between civilization
and barbarism, and that the practical
test of citizens patriotism and 10y
atty Is whether his acts and utter
ancos aid his own country or give
comfort and encouragement to the
enemy.
1;ev. Lewis G. Wilson, D. d., of
Boston, editorial secretary of the
American Unitarian Association who
took for his subject. The Quickening
spirit, He referred to the attempt
Of religious institutions to imprison a
religious spirit and said, while re-
lgion itself is not to be so confined
Despite some attempts it manifests
itself in individuals and in great So
! cial movements.
When human beings become indif-
! ferent and materialistic or when hu.
man society becomes inert and neg
liSent of great spiritual necessities it
Is possible for them to be renewed
and revitalized by the contact of the
divine spirit with their languishiny
/ interests"
/ ne speaker showed in closing that
] TO-DAY vital religion is manifesting it.
sell IN this country through the al
most unanimous effort of the nation
TO meet the demands of the war and
he urged the churches represented to
renew their spiritual efforts. He said
| that the welfare of the nation and its
strength as champion of freedom
and truth depends upon the wise en-
! thusiasm of religious groups
The program today will open with
Il devotional service in charge of Rev.
! Robert r. Doremus of Kennebunk at
9 o'clock and at 10 will occur the
business session of the conference. At
II o'clock there will be an open meet
/ ing the subject of which will be. The
Church and the World War" There
will he brief addresses and at this
time a letter will also be read frop,
! FIRST Lieut.. Paul S. Phalen of Angus
ia, who is chaplain in the army and
now with the colors in France.
! At 1880 Il luncheon will be served
! in the Ware parlors and a social hour
! enjoyed. At 100 the annual meeting
| OF the Maine Unitarian Association
and at 2.30 devotional service led by
| Rev. Alva Il. Scott of Bangor At 8
/ o'clock there will he reports from the
I branch Alliances followed by an adj
dress by Miss Lucy Lowell of Boston.
! president of the National Alliance.
! At O'Clock will occur the Last
/ Words" followed by the singing of
/ America" and the Star Spangled
Banner" and pleasing feature of
| the conference will occur in the eve-
! ming when an organ recital will be
/ given by Mrs. Karl G.. Sturgis. or
! ganist at All Souls church at Angus
! ia. followed by a service of song and
prayer.
EDBERT C. WILSON
CAPTAIN OF ENGINEERS