THE CAUSE AND CURE OF WAR.
By BKV. D. D. STALKER.
[The following •erraou wma de
livered by Rev. D. D. Stalker in
the Presbyterian church at Calu
met, Mich.. Sunday, August 23.
Mr. 8talker is well known hers,
having Waked relatives in Soot
land county the past 9pring, and
while here preached several
times in the Presbyterian church.
—Ed. Exchahqb.]
’‘Put up thy award unto the
sheath.”—John 18:11.
Sheath the sword is the com
mand of Jesus Christ. Human
history reveals how universally
tbs command has been disre
garded, for history is one con
tinned story of war and blood
shad. Literature and art com
bine in giving precedence to the
glory of arms rather than to the
art of peace. Orators adjured
their people and stirred their pa
triotism by tbs memory of their
battles. Posts saog the praise of
arms and men of Letters extolled
the heroes of war. Even the
-church—God’s mouthpiece uu
aarth—panned a similar course
and failed to proclaim effectively
the command# of her master, the
Prince of Peace. The pious Mil
ton mentioned among the goodly
-trophies of Cromwell, “garments
stream with blood of Soots,
brued. ” In the middle
church vied with the
‘ despotism end the claims
pretnaey. She was nationalised
and her bishops asserted the di
vine right of kings and condoned
many of their acts of tyranny.
Brute force methods were justi
fied and prayers offered for • ac
cess in wars of aggressiveness
and selfishness. In modern times
the church is^not so closely con
nected with .the state. In this
oountry tbs connection has been
oomptetsly severed and the
church today proclaims mote af
fectively the teachings of hdr
master on peace, especially the
- grsat doctrine of thq J*rother>
• hood ef men. This is apparent
In society, no Intelligent Individ
ual will today appeal to physical
■Mthoda, but to Judicial or fra
ternal to settle his differences
with his neighbor. The church
has not been so successful in the
sphere of internationalism, as is
evidenced by the barbaric war
that is carried on in Europe to
day. “Thou ahalt love thy
neighbor ae thyself/' ia as bind
ing on nations as on Individ oak.
Hm the church been faithful in
proclaiming this great truth?
Has the church ia Europe during
the past forty years been loyal to
bar national obligations, true to
her Christian evangel and pram
ed home with deep earneetnem
on rulers and ruled alike the
commends of the lfaater relative
to the brotherhood of "»■" ? If
so. would the ideals of medke
vnflstn survive to this day?
Those nations at war are pn>
ftmedly Christian, yet noting
with vnrkaoa with the lnjune
tkmeof Him whose name they
hear. The people' for the moat
part are a great people, a noble
P*opt* educated, cultured and
advaneed In adeem andert. and
have given tow what to beet in
our dvfttiatioo. Thaty. are close
ly related to each other and to
-win kinship. rtsMgfon, educa
tion, industry and aommsree.
They are our brother*. We an*
tartain a high regard for them,
sympathise with them in their
trials and sorrow. Tbeyiarp engage
aid in a titanic struygl*. eempaied
with which gper? other war of
will fade Into nothing
A war that threatens with
Be deatruetion aa entire hem
that will take amatory
. Think of mil
ef mm armed with the
Mgs'
other
in mortal combat; Use thought
ia dokenfng and revolting to all
that Je bast In the htaaaa kmL
the Iona of life wfll bn appgIHae.
wfl be iftiaHufl
titudce who will escape death will
ba maimed and in capacitated for
Ufa. Counties* towns and vil
lages will be peopled with wid
ows, orphans and sorrowing pa
rrots. And billions of money
will be wasted. That is not all,
not is tbe worst. Bitter enmities
will be aroused that will not be
allayed for generations. This la
exemplHted by the people of tbe
Balkan States, tha previous war
between France and Germany
and the wars of this country.
For many years af jsr tbe war of
Indepeuce it was regarded the
proper thing for the Fourth of
July orator to give a few twists
of the Uon’a tail. Id tbe civil
war feelings were engendered
that will take many years fully
to remove. And is it any won
der? A correspondent writing
from Brussels some days ago de
scribes io lurid colors the first
touch of the invader in Belgium.
A country rich the week before
in cornfields and beautiful gar
dens la now laid waste, villages
are in mine, families left home
lesa and destitute and sorrowing
over tbe death of those dear to
them. Will not these people en
tertain tbe bitterest hatred to
tha invader? Such Is the price
of war!
What Is ths cause of the srar,
the influence of which is felt
throughout Christendom and that
is laying its paralysing hand on
almost every industry ? It (snot
waged for freedom, nor for the
defense or propagation of some
great principle. Some give one
reason, others another. Some
blame one person, others an
other. *Tbe real cause of tbe
war we believe to be tbe prepared
ness for war. Tha advocates of
pesos, who for many years have i
been advocating the settlement
of all international disputes by
judicial, rather than wtrlike
methods, have always beta met
with umti&lu.lim ujii mm
way to praatrve peace waa to be
well prepared for war. This
was tbs plea of the rulere and
statesmen of Eorope. It waa
the ptee of some of our own
rulers and statesmen, Now w»
•ee the falsity of the plea, and
that the Barest way to bring on
war la to have Its complete ma
chinery always ready, such a ma
chinery aa exists in Europe to
day. Soldiers trained by the
tens of milHona, battleships that
cost aa much to build aa. a whole
navy coat a few years ago, ships
that will fly in ths air and deni
out death timers man have been
safe before, gone that will kill
while the foe is out of sight, sub
marines and mines that will blow
up .a Hast to atoms la a moment.
Troop trains that in a few hours
will carry afmise to the scene of
eonfliet. For decades Eorope has
been spending millions upon mil
lions perfecting thses machines
of death. Since the war of Mm.
France and Germany have been
building navies and codatruetii«
armaments that are the wnntW
of the military world. Siam the
war with. Japan-the Britons of
the Bart — Russia ' baa bean
strengthening tha weakness die*
doaed by that War. Britain do
pant on tha world lor bread
haa lor hentorlee Striven to eeato
taln s navy that Win guarantee
safaty to bar wheat-bringing
■hips. Austria, a loose union of
jarring raoee, ie supporting a
larga ehny to eaforea the newer
of her raHag family. All tMa
hie brought thelneolanee of pow
er and 'that Insnlnnm te hnarln»
its flrott today la tha crime of
tha agea. Many an indlvidaal
baa oovnmitted murder
ha waa well armed. 1? privets
dtiseos wars armed as batloas
are there would be frequent
IW«e end idurden. Were the
oftesrieedwsrbmraofthsC.dk
8* wine armed with deadly wee
pone last year whes the strike
began, blood would have been
ehadla tkmUmm Man Mbt
because they are' armed ”
m”
trained to fight Fighting la
their business. They talk aboat
it rand about until it baeocnes a
mania, and they are eager for
tbn fray, b> tog' confidant that
they will win hscaoss they have
confidence in their skill and
equipment Wholesale murder
is committed in Europe today be
cause of over-confident mana
gers of tremendous fighting ma
chines. Were these machines
not so perfect there would be no
war.
Whtt is the curs for war ?
Obediene* to the commands of
Jesus, is to sheath the sword and
lore our neighbor as we do our
•elves. It is because these com
mands have been disregarded
that the earth has been deluged
with human blood. The sword
muat be sheathed, not only
sheathed, but broken so that it
can bo used no mors. That day
is coming bseauss God. the ryler
of nations, has promised it. He
•aid the time wel come when the
Implementsof war shall bsturn
ed intoTostrumsots of industry
and peace, and when men shall
learn the arts of war no more.
‘They shall beat their swords in
plowshares and their spears into
scythes ; natron shall not lift up
•word against nation, neither
•hall they learn war any more."
Notwithstanding tbe present war
tbe signs of tbe times point to
the fulfillment of this promise.
Tbe leaven of tbe gospel is at
work and the sentiment for tbe
abolition of war as a means of set
tling fntarnation disagreements is
rapidly growing. Even in those
countries now at war there (a a
strong and everdncraasing party
opposed to all war. la Paris
lately a procaeelou of man march*
ad through tbe streets shouting
“Down with war!" The senti
ment it growing vary rapidly in
this country. Our government
today would not think of engag
ing in war except in self-defense.
Ware tbe country Inaulbad half a
dosen years ago as aha has been
this year by Uaxita, war would
he Inevitable. Had the same
ago there would have been no
Spanish- American war. Our wins
President la showings passion
for peace and a tremendous apti
tude for maintaining it. Ia this
ha has the support of an parties
and chases. We should be thank
ful that ws 4mva a man of high
ideals and wise statesmanship la
tbe chair during this crista. Ha
has manifested wisdom in
oo tbe citizenship of the country
to observe perfect neutrality and
refrain from taking sides in the
lamentable conflicts ia Europe.
Tbe people at war are our broth
ers, but the victims of an iniqui
tous system that must be de
stroyed.
It a confidently expected that
thie war will be the last among
the Christian Ration* Premier
Oknma of Japan aaid a few days
ago : "To bring .about a gqeat
PMoaa great warla sometimes
unavoidable." Ha that
pertiape a general dbtorbeoca In
Europe would resolve itmlf into
the final war of the world, lead
ing to permanent and ondisturb
•d Pane*. The potentates of Eo
rope probably fait the living tide
among the people of aversion to
to war. and that the day. was
sear whan the « b>h<—|
•nnaxnaeta most be radoeed or
totally destroyed. Before the
tide aroee to an oaeontrollablo
befeht they were anxious to
*•» the power of their flfhtia*
WMffhiaoo, and if oaeeeesffal (bey
voold entrench themeehres se
curely in their positions for yeert
to floats. They did not require
much of no excuse to start the
brar, hot before ft ended notate of
them may loee their crowns. Na
poldon loet his after the Franco
Praastan war, and when this war
i* over there • may be jteae
erowae without rulers to Veer
.ttasuk. The spoBs of the war,
i*»wsveet should eat I* ned we
eoofMtothr behave wffl not be
the aeqnrftlon of new territory
by the vfetom, nor the dsytres
♦ - * » " f Le
vanquished silks. AH satlonal
anmaata moat bo destroyed
except such a* may be necessary
to main tain peace within tha bar*
dors of each separate nation. All
International qoeatione moat be
aottiad by aa International tribu
nal of justice. The sword most
be sheathed forever as aa instru
ment of justice. It bad its day
nod that day must soon end.
From the day of Cain until now
it has bean bald aloft as a minis
ter of justice. Its justice bee
been no justice. Its judgments
have been not of right, bat of
might, not of truth, bat of skill,
not of law. but of fores. lu
work is nearly done and it will
go down to eternal night. But
not until autocracy and despot
ism are dethroned forever. Then
there will be no more master
ship of the continents or mis trees
ship of the set, neither for Eu
rope. Asia or America. When
democracy dee troys despots it
will have no use for masters. In
this final settling up America
will have her part to play and we
hope that she will play it wall.
In tha meantime It is ours to
pray for the men on the field of
battle, for sorrowing parents,
for widows and orphans deprived
of their shelter and support.
Pray the Lord of Hoots who a '•
uols the armlei of men that L.
will bring the war speedily to a
close and overrule all for His
glory and tbe ultimate good of
the human race.
to t Mm Thttm.
An old darkey who had been
elek fora long while bed been
treated by a colored physician
without gteting any better, de
cided to change doctors and call
ed Dr. J—, a white man. Dr.
J—. before the examination,
wishing to find out something of
the previous history of the eeee.
asked several questions about the
way the colored doctor had coo
ducted the treatniont; asked If
he had takan his temperature,
the old darkey replied. "He tuk
rash watch on' all de money Ah
tempratom too."
The doctor prepared hi* tber
"WWfar. placed it> under the
tongue, and while Waiting for It
to regiater. taruedto the window
joat in time to eee a runaway
home come charging down the
etreet attached to a buggy con
taining a lady and child. Almost
opposite the aegro eaten tha bug
gy upset and spilled the oeeo
paata, slightly Injuring both.
Tha doctor ruabad out, forgetting
hie thermometer, picked up the
lady and child, took them to hie
oAee, dreeeed their wounds, sent
them home end entirely forgot
hie patient for aome two or time
bourn. Finally, reabarlag that
ha had not completed hit exami
■*tiou of the patient or pre
ecribed for him, he returned to
the sick room and found him ly
ing flat of hie back, ayes tightly
daead with the moat angelic
aralla spread over Me satire coun
teoane^ the theraouteter still in
his mouth. UpoWite being re
-nwved.and asked bpw he felt, he
■efcl. *1 tell you. Doc*, dat little
glaae thing done me mote good
dea all de medicine dat nigger
gin meeO de Whole time he was
treatin' mu"
k*ka< tot nhp.
Scotland county has not 1st the
«*■“ grow under ita feet fa pi*
paring for the itorage of cotton.
The contract Kfcs bean let for
Mveeal warohouaea and work la
being roehed on the construction
of thros of thetoat Laurinburg.
Moat will bnilt as fast aa they
■re required. That le the right
toirit—to- act aad not manly
talk. — Whiterilis News-Reporter.
Preeident Wilson's record to
toned against attack from any
quarter at the ooropaee.
First National Bank
OFLAURINBURG
“YOU.WILL GO A
LONG WAYS
before you find a bet
ter BANK than this
one. My advice would
be for you to start an
account with them
good."*1* at*r<inflr
—a
The Two Most Important Books
a
In the world to the avenge rnea an the
pocket'book and toe bank-book. Bat
the letter Is toe most Important It
represents-one's aavinghabita; It points
to thrift to care for the future. We
invite deposits from young sad old and
allow very liberal interest besides offer
ing perfect security.
SCOTLAND COUNTY SAVINGS BANK
Laurinburg, North Carolina
EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY OUGHT TO HATE
A BANK ACCOUNT
_Tbooo who have a runlu heoai .
Checkin* Aecoont, otfcan will flad oar ShriaaDfr
• partmeat more to thair hkia*.
JJuaoogjaad then ia act the temptation toqSd
.SSftWoT c“hl<r tUrtfa« “
The State Bank
GOTO r
CBAS. B. TTBOB'S
BOR
T8B BEST HARNESS .
AMD
HORSE BURMBRIIIGM
8H0E8 REPAIRED WHILE YOU WAIT. '
CH AS. B. TY80R, Laurinburg, N. C.
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