The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-01-23

] .tat vast army OF tOllerS VINO JhuS
,lntribute to our welfare. Not a day
at We are enjoying the services of
n0usands of our fellowmen who. in
he forest and on the plain, in the
mines or on the sea, in the printing
]ant or on the rail, and in countless
her useful employment toll for the
common good.
! When new responsibilities sud
,anly arise the spirit of service
answers the call. For a thousand
wears the dauntless response of
American citizens to the challenge
If war will thrill the souls of coming
| generations. Before the war ii
seemed as though the heroic had
gone out of life. But it was evidently
there waiting only an occasion
When the bugle call was heard, from
the boy behind the plow to the
millionaire in his palatial office, from
the lonesome mother in the home
kitchen to the heartsick nurse sur
rounded by the dying, came the
universal response Ready" 1t was
the shout of mighty nation, sud
denly aroused from peaceful pursuits
to champion, at Gods CALL the rights
Of his oppressed children. 1t must
give us new respect for humanity, a
new love for men who can so rise to
the stern demand of dark-visaged
duty. 1t was like the lightning which
flashes across the bosom of black
cloud from one of the heavens even
to the other.
Now that the storm has passed
other conditions will summon to
duties equally as imperative. The
responsibilities of peace also require
vigilance and consecrated effort
Many vexed problems press for imme-
diate practical solution by the
people-problem economic, civil
and religious. To undertake the
discussion of all these is beyond our
present purpose. Let us briefly con-
slider the religious outlook.
Thoughtful people everywhere
have discovered that fundamentally
the war was fought over hard issues
The vital conflict was between right
and wrong, Americans did not enter
this war for greed or gain, nor for
military prowess. The consciences
of the people were stirred, their
moral convictions were aroused, their
appeal, like that of the fathers in
1875 was to the God of battles.
Never in our history has the soul Of
tho nation so responded to the appeal
of truth and justice, and in our re-
lief of the distress we have not for
gotten mercy.
The consciences of the people are
alive. Never before has such grave
responsibility faced the churches of
America. Contentious about dogma,
sectarian disputes and differences in
ritual become insignificant in the
presence of the greater question,
shall the people have the simple
Gospel which above all other things
is needed to steady and guide them
in these critical times 1t is hearten-
ing to see how our great leaders
almost without exception have divin-
ed this deeper need and based their
appeals upon it.
To bring duty near and avoid more
extended discussion let us ask a
practical question. Are the good
citizens of Heppner willing to accept
their responsibility for the progress
of their church forces. A church is a
community enterprise for which
there is no substitute. There are
fifty substantial men within the
sound of the church bells of .Heppner
who seldom enter church. They
are good citizens, honorable in bus
mess, faithful to their families, and
good men to know. Most of them
contribute to the support of the
church and would not like to raise
their families in churchless COM
munity. Do they realize that
churches cannot prosper on diet of
bank checks. The Apostle Paul
wrote to the people of ancient Cor
inth," | seek not yours but YOU
IIf even half of these men should as
a matter of principle, begin regular
attendance at the church of their
preference they would bring to the
churches an encouragement which
nothing else can supply. Their
example would be effective with the
boys and young men growing up
here, and incidentally, they might
themselves receive a personal benefit
in the course of the year which would
we'll repay the effort.
The Enacting Clause.
The acceptance of responsibility
involves a threefold process. First
an outward look. Jesus said to his
disciples, Lift up your eyes. Par
ents, young people, mature men and
women, lift up your eyes, that you
may discover the responsibilities
that surround you, the need that
IA