Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-01-03

SOME LESSONS FROM THE WAR.

SOME LESSONS FROM TIE WAR.
The cataclysm of the past four
years should furnish helpful instruc-
tons to individuals and to nations.
viduals and nations often ignore or
utterly disregard its Lessons.
Other wars, though on Il smaller
scale, have taught the same Lesson
as that of the one just ended, viz:
That 10 nation, man nor ST of men
can successfully override the moral
sentiment of other nations.
Germany was doomed when she
ran counter to the rest of the worlds
moral sentiment in her treatment to
Belgium. In her cruel and uncallcd
for atociritics to that little nation
she arayed against her the moral
sentiment Of the best people in the
world--hence her crushing defeat
was but Il question of time. Let all
nations and individuals learn the
great Lesson that moral sentiment can
not successfully be ovcr-riddcn and
wrong cannot be committed with i'm
punity.
Aside from the shedding of blood,
the understandable and unreasonable
miscries entailcd, the loss of prop
erty the crushing debts incurred.
should open the eyes of the nations
involved to the fact that bclligercnt
settlement of national contentious
rs the quintcssence Of colossal stu
pidity. II seems to me that apart
from all moral considerations, that of
finance should cause the nations to
settle their disputes by arbitration
Let us hope that the outcome of this
awful war will lead to II league Of
nations for such a purpose.
Again, we should learn that Mig
Eardly giving to the support of Chris
tianity is suicidal. Had Russia been
ChrisLianiZed the war might not have
started, or, if begun, soon brought
to Il triumphant end for justice and
right. In fact, had Gcrmany's Chris
tianity been genuine instead of spu-
rious. the war would never have be
gun.
Apart from the neral and spiritual
side of the question, generous Civ
ing to the support of true Christian
ty would save millions of dollars.
This, of course, should not be the ac-
tuating motive in giving, but as the
waste and debt caused by the war
will appeal strongly to many, its cx-
pensc will be powerful factor in
preventing future wars. The factors
III prohibitions victory were CONNER
cial and economic as we'll as moral
and spiritual so it will be with the
prevention of future wars.
Let there be large Christian ser
vice, muniliccnt Christian giving, and
wars will be no more.
This war has taught us Il fuller
realization of the fact that we are
our brothers keeper.
Christian influence, proper ideals
are not confined to circumscribed To-
caiities, but are worldwide in their
sweep.
What we think, say and do OIL
this side of the ocean, more or less
affects the thinking and doing of
our brothers in other parts of the
earth and vice versa
We now realize as never before
that we are members Of one great
Family, and what effects some of the
members, be it economically, socially
politically, morally, etc, effects ali
the rest. In Il way we realized this
'ic wal, Dul nOC with the pres
cnt intensity.
This lesson, we'll learned, should
make us more philanthropic and cos
mopoiitan IN our views and efforts
we should be standing on IL lofticr
level with the horizon of our vision
greatly enlarged
Many other lessons should be learn
ed. | mention one more: That true
greatness is inherent, not ADVENT
tious.
Who is smaller today than the ex
Kaiser? lie and his satellites arc
scattered here, there, yondcr, dishon-
ored, despised, and doubtless on &C.
count of tn recollestion of their in
Vulnerable atrocities to the innocent
they are victims of bitter rcmorse
and would deem death mcrcifu!
messenger to remove them out Of
their miseries.
True greatness inheres in noble
manhood, in righteous service to men
and IN clarifying God, not merely in
adventurous elevation undcscrved
conspicuousness. No man who is
mean, who is dominated by an I'M
hallowed ambition, is great, / care
not what his position may be!
Character, true greatness, is not
accidental nor incidental, but real.
The highest throne in heaven could
not make vice virtue, nor could the
depths of hell change virtue into vice
We have always to some extent be-
iievcd the truthfulness sc the above
statement, but never realizeS SO full.
~ their forcefulncss as now.\
God grant that this is oufs last
war.
REV. T. H. CAMPBELL.
IT,