Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-28


strong man in the armies, and es-
specially in Russia, to lead us out of
our difficulties. They are wrong. The
Jesus way is the way of the rise of
the common people. There is more
hope for humanity in the leveling up
of the common average than in the
development of q superman. Nothing
that found in France impressed me
more deeply than the high plane OF
the idealism. of the common soldiers,
A nation, or rather, group of ma
tions, have proved the workability
of the noblest principles, of the
average citizen.
In the new day which lies on the
other side of the war-though its
sunrise beams already brighten our
darkness-the teachings of Jesus for
society are to be put into effect by
the consensus of opinion of the
great mass of us. We cannot look
for a great preacher or ecelesiastic
to come forth as a Moses; evidently,
as in the days of his flesh, our Lord
is placing his reliance upon a group
of plain people made effective by
their relationship with him, and by
their understanding of his mind.
Every teacher, every parent, every
commonplace preacher and editor,
is to have an indispensable part in
ushering in the regime which Jesus
lived and died to bring to pass.
A Strange Idea of Religion
Ceremony, ritualism and formali-
ties characterize the temples and
cathedrals of earth. The hand OF
pre-Christian Jewish ritualism has
been heavy upon the modern Christ
ian Church. But in the ez4hy there
is none of this, except the sacra-
ment of the Lords Supper, and that
most simply observed. Religion
among the soldiers is chiefly a mat
ter of ministry. Only those who have
been with the troops can appreciate
fully how this new definition OF
Christianity has come to prevail
Chaplains give most of their time
to the doing of odd Jobs for the men.
The Y. NJ. c. A. are busy almost ex-
clusively in ministry, often of the
humblest sort. The Salvation Army
lassie in France has laid aside her
tambourine for a frying pan, and
she gives more time to doughnuts
than to devotions. This experience
has been to all Christian workers a
revelation of the power and beauty
and dignity and worshipfulness OF
sheer service.
Some say this is the new concep-
ton of religion, that is to prevail
oAbCA lhC wal. IICIC liOlhih5 new
about it. 1t is simply a return to
first principles. Jesus went about do
ing good. He revealed his message
and his mind by his ministry. He
was a helper of people. No office OF
kindliness was too lowly to COM
mand all of his divine energies
Gladly he made himself of no repu-
tation. His time was at the COM
mand of the crowds. Our newly
teachable world will learn from
Jesus, and from the war, the sancti-
ty of service. We have caught a new
vision of the tremendous reality OF
Christ's teaching about the giving
of cup of cold water.
The Highest Decoration
Look back over the lessons of the
past half year, we see one devoted
to peace. 1t was the story of the
storm on Galilee, stilled by the
words of Jesus. We note in this the
first condition of all real peace. II
came by the dominance of superior
will. The waves subsidized at the
word of their Master. 1t was not a
premature or a negotiated or a COM
promised peace. There was nothing
half way about it. The unruly wa
ters obeyed the master word OF
Righteousness. There can be no effect
i've peace, apart from this condition
War will cease when the will OF
righteousness, the demands of JUS
tice and human well-being. are ac-