Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-29

of slaughtering
animals in the stock yards, are not
permitted to serve on juries. It is
reasoned that the constant sight Of |
blood blunts their senslbflities so that !
they would not be slow to doom a fell |
low man to death on slight evidence.
It must be admitted that the terri
bic business Of warfare develops in
some men the spirit Of cruelty and
brutality.
It is claimed, also, that the life Of
the soldier cannot but result in the
lowering of his morals, and that it
will almost certainly utterly destroy
anything like religious principles.
Doubtless some will come back more
immoral than they went away, and
some who went away moral will come
back immoral. We believe, neverthe-
less, that there is no necessary peril
in tn occupation of a soldier, when
the issues of the war in which his
country is engaged are righteous and
just. Indeed. we believe the contrary
result will be far more likely.
Take Bible soldiers, those that be.
longed to Israel, Gods people. There
was Joshua, redoubtable soldier, q
great commander-in-chief of the mill
tory establishment of Israel in the
Gays of Moses. He was a great fight
er, but could say, "As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord" Glide
on did not disdain to fight manfully
against his enemy, and he was one
whose sword was welded as with the
sword of the Lord There was David,
the greatest fighter of his day. fight
ing from a mere boy to his old age,
yet David was a man after Gods own
heart, and wrote, 1.-THE Lord is my
Shepherd, I shall not want" "Who
have in heaven but thee. and there is
none on earth that I desire beside
thee"
Coming to New Testament times we
find several soldiers mentioned, all Of
the Roman or pagan army. Centuri-
ons are mentioned several times, and
in every case with commendation. One
centurion was a faithful friend of
Paul on his journey to Rome. Anoth-
er went to Jesus and besought him to
come and save his child. He was q
nobleman, and had built a synagogue
for the Jews; and Jesus said his faith
was greater than any he had found
in Israel. Another centurion said o1
Christ on the cross. "Truly this was
the Son Of God" Cornelius was cen
turion, ga just man who feared God,
and a man Of prayer. It Is also re
corded that the had servant, de
voted soldier, probably an ignoran,
barbarian, but one whom the Spirit
Of God had touched. And 1t is to BIZ
remembered that In those days battles
were hand-to-hand and usually result
ed In the death Of the defeated party
All through the centuries many great
soldiers have been great Christians
end unquestionably large number o.
officers and men in the present wa
ere also decided Christians.
Never were soldiers Of any army 81
guarded as to morals and religion
The Young Mems and Young Women
Christian associations, the Salvation
Army. the church organizations, tn
camp pastors and chaplains, with hun
Creds of ministers visiting the camp
are giving splendid service in this di
rection.
The government of the United State
has made provision for the protectio
of the camps at home and abroa
from immoral influences to an exten
never before attempted, and never be
fore were the prayers Of Christian pet
PIE so earnestly offered for the so
diers as now. Many men are bein
prayed for who were never prayed fo
before, and many are hearing the 60!
pei in the camps who never heard
before.
With these considerations and OIL
ers that might be set forth, it is OF
belief that men will return more CHI
alrous, gentle, moral and religion
than when they went away. They wi
come back to be leaders in OF
| churches and in all kinds Of religion
: service like the soldiers who can
hack after the Civil war, both in ii
! North and in the South, to be IL
r leaders in the churches.