Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-02
OUTLINES CHURCH's DUTY
IN PRESENT WORLD CRISIS
Rev. W. r. A. Hayne, breaches
Striking War Sermon at
Union Service.
RAPS PACIFIST PREACHERS
Present Conflict One Between Powers
OF Light and Darkness-Can BE
NO Doubt AS to Position Church
Should Take.

No Doubt AS to Position Church
Should Take.
Rev. w. T. a. Haynes, pastor OF ST.
James's Methodist Church. at the union
service last night in the Third Pres
oEterian Church outlined the duties
OF the church. as he saw them, in the
present world crisis. His text was
Gn eG 9t - - w thy hand
moment nome of history" he began: The
RESOLUTION Republics ie Oh an ms " empires
tremble on their foundations. While
the whole earth shakes with the
mics Millions OF trained troops, rep
resenting the greatest nations of the
earth ear are contendins with each other
combat are reddening the earth with
their gore. Other millions are being
starvation, while the heart Of the en-
tire race is rent and torn with the
agony Of sorrow and separation from
starless night enshrouds the earth
while gloom. darkness and tragedy are
everywhere: a little light is Just now
as we think we see the indications of
the approach of the end: but even
enlarsins camps and extending troop
trains and the increasing companies
OF manned men coming in constant
stream from the front.
CONFLICT BETWEEN POWERS
OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
so far as We are concerned our
cause is conflict between the powers
Of light and of darkness, and if that
be true the duty of the church is ap-
parent.
and asked them to emphasize the i'm
portance OF the purchase OF thrift
stamps in their Sunday schools. When
he was gone one member of that COM
pany said to the rest: DO not notice
him brethren, they are just trying TO
use US \ minister who is not ready
to be used in any proper way that he
may be used to advance the interests
OF the government and to hasten vic
to claim protection under the Stars
and Stripes and should be sent to
more .congenial Cline. The minister
his conscience requires him to give ut
terance TO pacific and critical senti-
,ments. should be speedily put where
speech within the limits OF four walls
not very far apart. and not very far
minds that might be poisoned by his
ideas.
The government has paid the church
very high tribute since the war be-
gan. Her officials have been turning
to its ministers with appeal after APP
peal for cooperative action in her
ganiZation. conservation and sympa-
thetic participa ton In plans to increase
her efficiency. If there were no higher
motive than the advancement Of It's
own interests the church would cSer-
else the part of wisdom TO respond TO
these appeals OF the government un-
der which it must operate and win
It's triumphs.
WHY CHURCH SHOULD
COOPERATE WITH GOVERNMENT
The minister and religious teacher
should give out Information in refer
ence to the purposes of the govern
ment and plans of procedure. lnfor.
nation properly given out Will he OF
inestimable worth in securing cooper
tive action. Let the people v%.er-
stand that this war had 10 be fought
with Germany either on European or
American soil; let them once grasp the
thought that II we had waited till the
German troops were on our own terri
tory, our property destroyed our homes
wrecked, our wives and daughters dis-
honorcd, our fields laid waste like those
OF Northern France. there would be
no hesitancy in responding to the
present plans, OF campaign." ,
cooperate with the government for
purely selfish reasons since the church
had pursued its course. won its vic
tnuing It's operations under the pro-
iective wing of the government and
liRious conditions in England two CEN
turtles ago with those in this country
at the present day. Then for patriotic
reasons the church should show its CO.
operation since the people that compose
the church membership are citizens of
the nation and such are bound by
every tie of loyalty to it's interests.
Thirdly, for religious reasons. he said
the church should cooperate with tho
government pointing out that the
church exists that it may minister in
the largest possible way to the well
fare OF all the people and that this
opportunity is best guaranteed by the
maintenance of the present govern
ment.
Put the chief duty Of the church."
he concluded. us to continue to bring
10 men it's message OF forgivinG love
ard immortal hope through the preach
ing OF the gospel. Whether democracy
or autocracy prevails is comparatively
a secondary question as this has to
80 with our lives for a brief period.
. When we pass out OF this earthly life
into the regions beyond, II will mat
ter little whether the government un-
dor which we lived was republic or
a monarchy 1t will not matter much
whether we died on the field OF bat
tie defending our rights ageinst the
cncroa Chment OF an intoler6nt foe. or in
our quiet beds AT home. The one cues
tion Of paramount Importance, then.
will be our. relation to God and the
eternity. II we have embraced His
forgiving love. walked in His holy
light. and lived In the realization OF
the immortal hope, our future is safe"
French Fox IL Mascot.