The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-09
SUNDAYS sERM 0 n

The Influence of Great Britain On
Literature and Religion of the World.
Was the theme of a scolarly and in
spring sermon delivered Sunday
morning at the First Christian church
by the Rev. n. d. Weber, pastor Of
the church.
DIR. Weber said in part:
1T is difficult for us to make a
just estimate of the influence of the
literary life OF the world Politically
We are free from British ~rule, and
that is good for us and them
Generous acknowledgment viii be
made to Britain for her prompt en-
trance into the war. She held thin53
steady until we came in. But the
victories won on land and sea were
fun OF significance. We shall miss
their real meaning IL We do not see
that 1T was altogether victory for
the ideals held in .ommon by the
English speaking race.
In the broadcast sense the literature
OF Britain is religious. Tennyson and
Burns and Shakespeare are theologi-
ans. Dickens and Scott are preach
ers. From England, Scotland and Ire
land have come. as on great tide,
the hopes. the fears, the aspirations OF
humanity. It's writer's have tried to
point the way to better conditions. The
continental writer's have described
human life very largely as matter of
scientific demonstration or artistic de-
lineation. British writer's have un-
covered the wrong in order that 1t
might be righted. Therefore, While
We make a distinction between litera-
ture and religion as a concession to
popular thought, we shall be better
q ~ In n .v.1 49, %r~1 x&4vr ,ysxy % -
Britain as fundamentally religious.
We have acknowledged her preemi-
nence by our wholesale absorption of
her thought
In religion in the narrower sense
how much do we owe to Stanley.
Giekie, and a hundred other British
diyines? No possible understanding
OF the religious scholar in American
life can be reached without takirfs
them into consideration. What shall
we say of the influence of such men
as Wesley, Whitfield and Spurgeon?
Consider the classic English Of the
King James Bible and the Prayer
Book. Estimate, if you can. the value
Of Bunyan's immortal allegory, or the
deep religious democracy couched in
These giant peaks among the literary
men of Britain have pointed ever To
heavenly things.
and yet the world awoke few
months ago with start to a realiza-
ton OF the fearsome fact that all
these men represented was II jeop-
ardy. That was why we sounded the /
alarm that civilization was in danger /
OF subjugation by German science, |
soulless. and therefore, constituencies. I
This was why, in large measure, We |
joined hands with our cousins across /
the sea to crush the accursed and I
menace to religion, morals
and real culture represented by the
ruling classes OF Germany and their
machine.
I'VE recognized that the British
navy had policed the seas, protecting
not only her own commerce and mis-
but ours. While not deny
ing or belittiing the share OF other ma
tons In the worlds commercial, in
tellectual and spiritual progress We
give Great Britain the first place.
And finally We must learn tha. the
of trade. OF intellect. OF
soul, must go on together never sep
arately. The permanent good OF the
world demands it. In considering the
future part our country will play in
the worlds great drama. shrewd and
far sighted people will ask three
questions: Will the venture pay? Is
there common sense in it? Is it
right? 1t is because Great Britain
has never wholly forgotten to mix
religion with business that She has
been in such potent factor in world
affairs and because. in spite of mans
her influence has been on
the whole a mighty power for good
that We honor her. We are payii/.
bur debt to her by passing her bles-
sings On to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, not only
N our own, but in other lands