Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-30
END OF MANKIND
REGARDED AS PUNISHMENT

But through all the ages there has
been type of the religious mind which
has been unable TO maintain this at
titudo of dcvout humility. 1t must
reconcile Gods ways with man. and,
being forbidden by the cardinal doc
tr!ne of its faith TO believe that God
does nothing, still less that He does
not care. IL falls back on the eSplana-
ton that the evils which are per-
mitted TO befall humanity are Gods
chastisement of man for his trdus-
Gressions. Man has sinner; therefore.
God wills il that he shall suffer. If
the suffering is to be removed the sin
must first be wiped away.
That has been the meaning of thou
sands OF pious pilgrmages in time of
plague and days OF fire. famine and
slaughter. and (whatevcr other words
surround IT'D il is the central motive Of
the prayer OF the London Wesleyans at
Central Hall to-day, when, in the face
Of the tragedy of tho war. they call on
God for 'dclivcrance from our tradi-
tional sins of drunkenness and PRIDE"
THIS THEORY PUTS BLAME FOR
WAR UPON OURSELVES
But think OF the imp!ety of it! The
treason and the cowardice! Put into
plain words. 1t means that not Ger
man treachery, and the spirit of a
bascr plot than had ever before been
hatched by cruel greed and heartlcss
ambition against the peace and well
fare OF the world. but our own sins
were the true authors OF this war
1t means that in punishment of our
British drunkenness and pride God has
permitted Germany 10 fall on our coun-
try. 10 fan on Belgium. too, and de-
stroy it; to fall on Serbia also. and
leave 1t desolate. II means that in
order 10 purge us OF sins that date
back to old time. the Almighty has
willcd it that with every barbarity OF
warfare our enemies shall scourEe us
that our young men. who have done
no wrong. shall die on the battle field
and our little children. and the chill
drcn of our brother nation across the
ocean, shall be drowned in the open
sea.
Oh. I we'll know with what theologi-
cal conjuring and Juggling a certain
type OF the religious mind has through
out the Christian ages made effort to
escape from such manifest deductions
There is no escape from them.
If the German is Gods instrument
for the Chastisement of our sins why
should we resist him? If the war is
Gods punishment OF our transgres-
sions. our duty is To submit to il. as
the Christians of tho Dark Ages sub
mittcd in helpless blindness to famine
and plague. "Mca culpa" should be
our only cry
TO charge the war TO our national
sins. and to pray for deiiverance from
them as n means OF propitiatinE the
Almighty that lie may end the horror.
Is to hclittle God. to degrade man. and
10 weaken our will to overcome our
enemy. Therefore (however sincerely
intcnded) il is impiety. profanity, bias
phnmy and treason.
The Wcslcyans OF Central Hall did
not intend any OF these things Their
sincerity and devotion are entirely
above question. But their PRAYERS do
little justice TO either. and none at
all TO their intelligence. Brains. Wcs-
leyana. brains! For Gods sake, in
this hour of peril let us have not
only your pcty. but your brains
| fully expect. and indeed already
know. that an attempt will he made
To prove that the prayer In question
meant something less and perhaps
quit" other than 7 say: but lest there
should be any unworthy effort to es-
cap" from the only logical intcrpreta
ton, look at the terms of this second
petition, whic agree with the shirt
OF the first and carry it 10 its natural
conclusion: That God will give us n
peace viii not mean the breaking down