Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-16
PASTOR OF. PRESBY.
CHURCH SAYS WAR
WILL UNITE NATIONS
OUT OF THE PRESENT CONFLICT
WILL COME A LEAGUE OF
GREAT PEOPLES TO PROTECT
WORLD FROM HUNiSM.

WOhIO FnOW F1ONIO".
An interesting sermon on After the
War. What" was delivered last night
by Rev. V0nckx at the Presbyterian
church. The sermon deals with the
present war and the ecect ii will leave
on humanity when the reconstruction
period sets in. He said in part,
"All the nations of the earth are fac
ing this question, trying TO anticipate
the future We are sure OF some
things such as the League Of Nations
and Free Peoples; with such men as
President Wilson. Mr.. Taft Mr.. As
Quith, Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Bal
four promting the league and the as
surance OF victory by the Allies this
new condition is inevitable. But the
question arises, will the new democra
cy be the means of lifting civilization
to a higher degree than obtains at the
present time? Any particular form Of
government is no guarantee OF pro-
gress, but we would venture the sug'
gestiOn that progress in the new period
upon which we are about To enter IS
dependent upon the church, upon
Christianity, for Christianity is the
secret of the progress of the race II
the work of the church is kept at
"foodtide,' as President Wilson has
requested, then Christianity with its
faith In God will sustain the homes
and ennoble the boys at the front
progress will be inevitable.
History shows that the progress of
Chris tianity and the progress Of the
race are inseparahle AS we read the
history OF the race prior to the advent
OF Christ and Christianity we find that
with the succeeding centuries there
was an increase in ungodliness, i'm
morality and vice. that civilization
was on the downward track; but with
the advent OF Christ civilization start
ed on the upward track and with the
progress Of Christianity it continued.
More than that, the progress Of the
race was in direct proportion to the
rogress Of Christianity: when in the
middle ages the world was under the
domination of corrupted Christian
ity and there was no progress Of the
progress of the race. but when such
men of God as Luther and Calvin
CAME along and delivered the world
from the domination Of this corrupt
Christianity then there was progress
OF Christianity and a corresponding
Christianity neither was there any
progress of the race as well
Again, notice that the progress OF
civilization in the particular nations
is according to the progress of Chris.
tanity in that nation; think of Next
co and South America. Why have
Mexico and South America been re-
tarded In their civilization when
North America has gone forward with
such leaps and bounds? Is it not very
suggestive that being dominated by a
corrupt Christianity which is max
ing no profess that there is no pro
gress of the race? Once again, which
are the two nations that have made
the greatest progress in civilization
Are they not the United States and
Great Britain, then notice these are
the two nations that have had the
greatest progress in Christianity
Therefore in view of this evidence we
conclude hat Christianity is the secret
of the progress of civilization.
The cause Of the war is found in
the failure of the dominant class OF
Germany to live according to the prin
cipes of Christianity. The war does
represent the collapse Of Christianity
for then the militarists of Germany
muot AIldNt lftu dCtUTuluE W the pIlU
ciples of Christianity and as a result
Of that living have plunged the world
into this terrible catastrophe
After the world what? A world
democracy pervading a league of ma
ton. Germany may be in or out OF
this league according to whether she
is then included in the classification
of free people," whether the victory
has been so complete that there re
mains no such thing as militarism
whether the characterization of Ger
mny has taken place.
There will be a great reduction Of
armament; a recognition of the prn
riples of liberty equality and justic,
in their worldwide application"
NOTICE