Widnes Examiner. — 1915-03-06 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

REV. A. F. MATTHEWS  Asks " What Is The Matter With The  World ?"  The Rev. Fra»cis John Matthews, of Glossoproad Baptist Church, Sheffield, visited the scenes of his former successful labours on Sunday and preached to large congregations attending- the choir anniversary at Latchford Baptist .(jhurch. In the evening the reverend gentleman preached on the question "What is the matter with the world?"  People., he said, seem to be afraid of facing the fact that "ideas" tell, and nothing in this world is more forceful than the nature and influence of religious notions. When, therefore, One has to diagnose .the conditions of modern Life, national and European. in order to discover what is the matter with the world, 4 is seen that there is _a war of ideals_ and ideas. On. the one side' there is the spirit of arrogance, intolerance and overwhelming conceit in consequence of material advance; and oii.. the other' a passion for what- makes character the most. noble and enduring factor in the world's best life. Both Germany and A.therica were Suffering from swelled-head, and the selfishness of the latter was only equalled by her Government's callousness to the extraordinary sufferings of the Belgians and their Country. America had few convictions beyond those associated with wealth and the .power it brought; and it .was' to her eternal shame- and disgrace that she had uttered no official protest against the outrageous and devilish conduct of Prussian militarism. A large section of mankind had obviously lost its grip of God and human goodness. Only .a return to these truths in their beauty and fulness was able to bring back sanity and common-sense into . our national" and international relationships. The silly and wicked doctrine of the "Balance of Power" was the attempt to play off one nation against another. No great country in Europe was exenapt from the responsibility of advocating and practising it. Murderous and Hateful War.  Jealousy, international misunderstanding, feuds, subterfuges and diplomatic lying of every form and description ran rife under its shadow, and now we were all caught in one of the most twirderous and hateful Wars that mankind had ever known. Surely there was need for Christ to come here' and now, not in, the sense that many would have us believe, and in which they would find their highest joy and comfort; but in the • rehabilitation of the .world's life in righteousness and true holiness of -character. No doubt after this .terrible crisis was over we should have to keep swatch and ward.' that the perfect peace of God Should come, and with it the goodwill of all men towards each other. The times were more than ripe for an advance in patience, goodwill, sound judgment, intellectual and spiritual • freedom for the individual and the race. The approaehing.end' of the ago was the re-birth of a new world, in which .righteousness shall for ever dwell.  lie thought that the close contact into which the war would bring men of many nationalities would lead to a better understanding -between the peoples of the nations, and so help forward the, coming of the good time for which all good •men *OM