The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-05-06
The Preacher in War Time

when the Reverend Doctor j. II. Jovctt took leave of his con
grcgation at the Fifrh Aycnu" Presbyterian Church on April l4,I
after u passionate Of seven years. To- accept work IA England. he used
WV" ann fo Ia" old to drht with material weapons in our sacred corsc,
and can make no contribution 10 our material strength. Bur there
are forces beside, those which are supplied with munitions The moral
and spiritual forces of the nation are. after all, it., manifest equip
lnWt.
If the morale of a people suffer, its Ideal, grow dim. If ITS en-
deadly WEAKNESS rrcrIs INTO MS temper all the munitions M nc WoHd
- do not for moment believe that we can lose in this
struggle. and feel that our final triumph is rs sure as the morning.
TIN, rangs sound aud SAM" 1t shows " clear vision of the
preacher duty IN war time.
Mos. of the preachers have shared in the moral struggle Of well
nigh the entire population IN the effort 10 reconcile the plain trend
of Bible teaching toward peace with the no less plain, but new and
The brutal efforts of a miIitari>tlc nation 10 destroy all moral law
IN the world.
Most Of them have found themselves. While they do not preach
hate and vengeance. they do preach lH" n"c'N,ll for q free people
io resist lo the last ditch the violence of organized vickcdncN,.
The preacher has a shining opportunity. tie can with a clean
heart pra, God to strengthen the arm of law and Justice and 10 defeat
the Toe whose aim Is tyranny. whoNc method Is 'h" most ir'shttn
inhumanty, aud WHOSE motive T. sheer madness.
lie cam set before the Young men Of draft age those lofty ideals
Of courage and honor which shall make their service a high privilege"
lie can sustain the tried spirits of the mother and the wife by
reminding them of the nobility that shall c"m" 10 them through
sacrifice.
lie can urge rbc rich TO give freely Of their possessions and the
poor not to stint their lahorS in rendering the nation efficient.
lie can emphasize all JcNuSN words of pcac" by calling +" the
mind of his people that the one SURE and only way Ia bring peace -
90 defeat and render rmpotcnt the organized deyhtry of thar mtiot
that disturtN the peace.
lie can tell his people with perfect truth that it is as holy a buSi
ness to rcprc>N outlaws when they come Is armies a. it Is to take and
bind them when they operate aS a small band of thugs
lie can lay before them the horrors of Armenia. OF lrhudn'a. ct
Belgium, France, aud Poland and call upon them To do what they
can TO end the nrtar"nN power lhal commits >urh ihlngS'
lie can show each man, woman, and cllld IN has care the need
that every one Ito something Ia hrlp. and that buying War Stamps
and Liberty Bonds conserving food, and assisting m ia" various r'l"t
societies are ~ needed A. ARRIVING rifles
lie can urge unity, suppress dlNcord, preach courage, cret, and
hope, and thus be of ucsiimaMd value in sustaining the heart" Of the
people uu tins supreme trial @
TIN, is most profoundly a Religions war, war against tluman
.iy, treaty breaking. cruelty. traunral power. and ideals the laos,
vsoN and rotten ---
Surely this issue is enough TO tip the preacher tongue with
cloqucncc and to tire hi, heart with diyincsr passion, for never was
a nation reused to action with cleaner hands nor hoicr purpose