The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-15

ones and little ones, incendiaries and
delayed action, and finally land
mines. The whole town and coun-
tryside was under intermittent
bombardment. The green country
side looked like a golf course full
of sand traps and the consequences
within the suburban towns can we'll
be imagined.
And now against that back
ground you have this story. 1t was
Sunday morning. and there was a
large congregation at Braintree
Congregational Church. 1t was
special service to be followed by
communion. The minister was in
the very midst of his sermon when
one Of those land mines which had
fallen just outside the churchyard
exploded with such violence that
some of the windows on that side OF
the church were blown in. Conster-
nation reigned for few seconds.
Everyone including the minister,
held his breath. Not sound with
in the church followed the shatter
ing Of the glass. The minister hap
pened to be looking at one of his
deacons. The deacon made a mo-
ton with his hand and his lips, if
not his voice, said, Garry on" The
minister resumed his sermon and
the sermon was followed by the reg
ular communion. Not one person
left the church. When the service
was concluded the people went out
to see what had happened and to
assess the damage, but not until the
service was concluded. They had
fortitude, they had courage, they
had faith. They were determined
to carry on in the path of worship
and service ana they did in spite
of Hitler and his land mine.
1t is manifest, I think, that we
find certain parallels to the expert
ence of that British congregation
in the lives of many Christian peo-
pie. While 1t is true that few if
any in this morning congregation
have any first nand experience with
land mines, there are some whose
sons and brothers have been or will
DE in deadly peril. There has been
nothing soft or artificial about this
war since the lull between the invas-
ion of Poland and the drive through
the Low Countries. The number Of
men overseas grows month by
month. Some OF these men, our
brothers in Christ, are bound to be
placed where they need fortitude,
faith, and courage in full measure
we pray God they may have it.
Nor must we place all the stress
in or without the ranks of the armed
forces whatever our ST., ion or pro-
fession or family background, there
is always the possibility that some
threat of misfortune or disaster may
strike without the slightest warning.
Or it may be that some threat to
Cur peace of heart and soul may ap-
pear On the horizon, a cloud no
larger than a mans hand and may
then grow and grow until 1t assumes
the proportions of a hurricane which
will sweep away everything of secur-
ity and value We have in life. I do
not know that trouble and suffering
are any easier to bear because we
have been warned that they are
inevitable. On the contrary, such
troubles and sufferings seem harder
to bear with good courage and high
faith than the ones that come I'M
expectedly like the proverbial thief
in the night.
Now, much as admire those who
use the phrase, carry on, and
demonstrate by their courage that
they mean to do just that, I want
to suggest that We need a high and
firm faith if we are to carry on"
to noble ends and purposes. To
carry on" might imply that we
merely are interested in survival or
in victory. Nearly everyone agrees
by this time that victory in war by
no means guarantees lasting peace.
The cause of lasting peace must be
won after the guns have ceased fir
ing. Military victory never guaran-
teed anything except an opportun-
ity and a responsibility to make
peace. In somewhat the same man
ner an individual might carry on
very bravely in the face of some per-
sonal tragedy but be left embitter-
ed by 1t, coarsened, hardened. SIM
ply to carry on is not enough.
In the case of our British friends
in Brairtree it seems self-evident
to me that they had great faith as
we'll as glorious courage. BY re-
naming quietly in their pews until
the service was over they witnessed
that the worship of Almighty God
and the sustaining faith they found
in that sanctuary were of supreme
Importance in time of crisis, Once
more remind you Of New England's
Dark Day that came during the
American Revolution, day when
the blackness of the skies at mid
day seemed a fitting symbol Of the