The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-01-03
WAR AND CHRISTMAS
RECOGNIZABLE (?
Christmas Sermon by Rev. Hugh Hay,
Pastor Of the 81. Lawrence
VI. T.. Church

ate the publication OF h following
Christmas sermon of Rev. ii. Hay, If
space and opportunity permits.
A Reader.
"GlOry 10 God I'm the highest and
on earth peace, good Will toward
men.1-Luke 2;14.
Sermon theme christmas and war.
are they reconcilable?"
This anthem was chanted by the
Angels Of the heavenly host, when
Jesus was born. At no time i'm earth's
history is such a passage more need
cd than today. The larger part of
Christendom, and of civilized and
semi-civilized nations are at deaths
grips with each other. We are now
in the fourth year of this worlds tur-
moii aud tragedy and we seem 10
nearer the end of the struggle than
when the war first began. Indeed no
one at the beginning thought it could
be a long war. One man in England,
Lord Kitchener. said it would last
three years. but no other went as far
as he in such a reckoning. Most
thinking people said a long war is
Impossible. Modern implements OF
destruction are so terrible it would
decimate and bankrupt the world.
But all the prophets have been mis-
taken. II is now evident that SC long
as any of the great nations wish to
fight money will be forthcoming with
which to continue it, and men will
come forth to the slaughter.
Christmas a year ago, America cele-
brated the birth of the worlds Re.
deemer looking at the tragedy of the
ages over three thousand miles of
ocean. but today we ourselves arc in
the awful holocaust. With scarce Z
dissenting voice last April our Nation
al Legislature declared that a state
of war existed between the United
States and the Imperial German EN-
pire. Since that time the most pro
digous efforts have been made by us
in voting and raising huge sums of
money and over a million of men.
Over half a million of our boys, in
stead vi being with us III ouI homes
enjoying Christmas cheer are in the
various Cantonments of the land pre-
pairing themselves for wars destruc-
tive duties. Probably another half
million of our boys are already in
France. some of them in trenches, and
most of them soon to be. Others of
our boys are flying the air. and sail
ing the high seas seeking to infiict as
much injury as they a upon the
ommOn enemy. This holy Christmas
tide we are i'm the very heart Of a
conflict that c%onyulses the world. a
few OF our boys already have been
sacrificed for country's sake and he
worlds sake. Soon, too soon, every
part of our land will be in mourning.
fear me mach that ere long we will
DE startled personally by some teie-
gram from across the. sea We must
prepare ourselves for the worst.
Searching, trying times are upon us.
Unparalleled sacrifices and sufferings
are coming to us as a nation. Many
a home will be bereft, Rachel weep
ing for her children because they are
not"
Who is to blame for this world
slaughter? Why must each of us do
our best and give OF our best in this
outrageous war? Why did our own
America with three thousand miles
between us and the principal parties
in the struggle allow itself TO be
brought in to II? How can we re-
concile il with our holy religion, the
birth of the Christ child, and the
angels song?
We have no doubt today who is re-
spOnsible. We know that a cruel and
amDIL1OuS STOup vi men, oo 40 w
can see without conscience. or human
feeling, deliberately planned for more
than a third of a century to do this
horrible thing. We may moderate
this statement, by allowing that they
did not forsee 1t all. They planned to
be barbarous and cruel beyond tell.
ing. But they expected the struggle
though inhuman and awful, would not
be long. To overrun Belgian and
ravage her, to conquer France. and
then Russia, and afterwards to settle
with Great Britain. and put theiI
terror upon the world in a few months
wal the plan they had outlined. But
resistance has gone beyond theiI
foresight and they now seek a pre-
mature peace. in order that they may
better prepare themselves for thu
achievement Of their dream. In al
solennity. speaking rs q represent
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