Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1913 — PEACE DESIRABLE, WAR A NECESSITY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEACE DESIRABLE, WAR A NECESSITY

A Vexed Question Viewed From a Hew Angle by Pastor RusseH. * j" Peace Impossible Exoept Upon Certain Conditions—ls War Has Brought Dire Evil, It Bhould Be Credited Also as ths Basis of the World's Progress. Ths Teachings of Josus Not Applicable to tho World, but Only to Hie Saintly Followers Conflicts Must Continue as Long as Sin Continues to Reign—Only Messiah’s Kingdom Will Cause Wars to Cease to the Ends —of the Earth. ——-——

Washington, D. 0* May 28.—Pastor Russell, addressing the Washington Temple Congregation, made some statements which seemed startling, yet reasonable. His arguments quite upset some popular theories, yet seemed so rational as to be convinc-

tag. His text was: “He maketb wars to cease unto the end of the earth. • * * Be still, and know that 1 am God.”—Psalm 46:9, 10.

The Pastor declared that no one coaid be more averse to war, on general principles, than himself—that he was on extremest in his sentiment for peace. Yet he could not close his eyes to the facte of history—that practically every blessing has come to the world through war. Where would America be today, had there been no War of Independence? Where would the nations of Europe be today. If they had not fonght to maintain their national liberties? would a refusal to light land every nation in less than a year? There Is no conflict between this common-sense view and the teachings of our Master, said Pastor Russell. Our Master was not addressing nations, but Individuals, when He directed that whoever Is smitten on one cheek should turn the other, and be non-resistant Jesus’ Instructions were Intended for his followers, who were to come out from the world, and be separate—a new nation, a holy people.

The Beatitudes Not For Nations. When Jesus said, the peacemakers,” He was addressing a special class of Individuals—those who would become His disciples by a foil renouncement of all earthly* Interests. The Redeemer’s declaration respecting nations was the very reverse of this. He declared, “Nation shall rise against nation, and there shall be wars.” “I fear that I shall be misunderstood,” said the Pastor, “bat there Is ■o mnch confusion upon the subject that the truth needs to be stated plainly. And I know of no place more appropriate for Its statement than In the capital of the most peace-loving nation an earth—except China.” War Is not a disease, but merely a symptom of disease in the body politic. Bo long as the disease continues, war Is bound to continue. Need I say that the disease Is sin? Bln and war are Inseparable. There are only two wayfi of Inhibiting war: (1) By converting the nations from a condition of hardness of heart, selfishness, sin, to a condition of righteousness, tenderness of heart, generosity; (2) By establishing a government not awayed by sin, to control affairs by superior strength. This proposition Is not debatable. Its basic facts are, the Pastor claimed, as sore as mathematics. He cited Scriptures corroborating bis position, and showing that sin, selfishness, Is continually on the warpath, politically, socially or financially. The Pastor > Included In the great warfare all social, political and financial disturbances. These are battles In which the shrewder minds, as a rale, conquer. Instead of wars ceasing, we see new conflicts from new quarters. LABOR, having organised, develops strength dally. It Is professedly traintag for a great conflict, and declares that its warfare against oppressors of every kind is only commencing. Moreover, for years our great callages have been undermining faith in the inspiration of the Bible, and their Influence has extended finally to the masses. These are now declaring their doubta respecting a future life, and their determination to grasp at the earliest possible moment the opportunities of lbs present life, and share the luxuries of the rich. If their program be half carried out, jt means a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”—Daniel 12 :L Never was the world more strlfSful than at present, never more alert for ■alf-gratlficatlon. Discontent la goading mankind onward with Increasing spsed to the greatest of all conflicts. What Is the Remedyf The Pastor explained that the Scriptures show that the time of trouble looming up before mankind will be so terrible that the world will have Its AO. Thenceforth, under the guidance of Messiah’s new administration, the spirit of a sound mind will gradually come to mankind as a whole, and proportionately they will turn to Messiah’s Kingdom In loyal obedience, declaring, as says the Prophet. *‘Lo, this Is our God; we will wait for Him; He will save ns.” Rich and poor of every nation will gradually be made swam of the changed conditions, and SB lsrm of righteousness will rejoice,

PASTOR RUSSELL