Watch!

1874

There is no period in a Christian's life without peril of sin. A wily foe attends his steps, watching with sleepless vigilance for opportunities which may be made occasions for his fall. The only security for the child of God, therefore, throughout his entire pilgrimage, is in unrelaxing watchfulness. As the citadel is only secure against surprise and capture, when faithful sentinels, with pauseless step, pursue their steady tread along its walls and before its gates, so, the soul, the temple of the Holy Ghost, is alone impregnable against the Prince of Darkness when all its powers, clad in Gospel mail, guard every avenue, with incessant vigilance, against the entrance of evil.

But there are seasons of peculiar jeopardy, when unusual perils beset the Christian, and so insidiously, as to threaten his safety with more than ordinary promise of success. We are passing through such a season now, and there is need of the note of warning which we sound from the head of this article. We have seen and heard enough already to satisfy us that without great caution, the Adversary will gather rich spoils from the present "panic." The scarcity of money will be a strong temptation to many to disregard the sacred obligations by which they are bound to support the cause of God in its various departments. The pressure is so great, the future so threatening, the necessity for retrenchment so imperious, and "withholding more than is meet" so much more consonant with natural inclination, than the self-denial which enhances the gifts we lay upon God's altar, that, without weariness, many good people will be seduced into the sin of "robbing God" who would shrink from wilfully bringing upon their souls so grievous a crime. This is the supreme peril of the times; let Christian people guard against it. Be sure that you are personally cramped by the prevalent stringency, before you make it a plea for withholding your dues from the Church or the claims of charity.

If really straightened, see to it that personal gratification is postponed to the claims of Him whose steward you are. It is right to be provident, but it is safe to give when the cause of God presents its claims, so long as there is anything with which to respond to its demands. The widow of Sarepta passed a "crisis" incomparably more trying than any we experience or are ever likely to encounter; and passed it safely, by dividing her scanty store with the prophet of the Lord. There is infinitely greater danger of damaging your soul by treacherous dealing with duty, than there is of impoverishing yourself by excessive contributions to the Lord's treasury. "Take heed then, and beware of covetuousness," which has a powerful ally in the present monetary stress. There is blessing or disaster for us in these trying times, according as we use them. Let us watch against the evils they threaten, and enrich our experience with all the spiritual benefits they are capable of yielding.

Ministers Hit Ford and Bryan

Illinois, 1916

Kind of Citizenship Not Desired, Says Dr. Jenney

DEFEND UNCLE SAM

Decatur Pastors Think Force Should Be Used

Some of Decatur's leading ministers in sermons to their congregations Sunday declared that the United States is justified in its course of intervention in Mexico. They urged that Uncle Sam continue to use all the force necessary to secure a lasting peace in the country south of the Rio Grande.

Rev. C. E. Jenney, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, struck the climax when he attacked the stand of Henry Ford, who recently declared that any of his employees who joined the National Guard would be without jobs on their return. Mr. Jenney said he thought Mr. Ford's ideas should not be emulated by the people; that his kind of citizenship is not the kind of citizenship to be desired.

Rev. E. M. Antrim, pastor of the First Methodist church declared that a "Good Spanking" is what Mexico needs, and is the thing which will bring law and order out of chaos.

Rev. Frank Fox, pastor of the Congregational church, also took a rap at Bryan and Ford. "Impractical pacifists like those two men should go with their families and live on the border for a while. They would then learn by actual experience the terror of night raiding bandits."


PEACE ONLY ON RIGHTEOUS GROUNDS

The Mexican situation was discussed by Dr. T. Harley Marsh at the First Baptist church Sunday night. He used Matt. 10:34 as a text. Dr. Marsh spoke partly as follows:

"When nations come into the realm of righteousness there will be peace, but Christ says between that time and the present there is much to be hoped for, and prayed for.

"The advancement of the human race has been made largely by struggle, and peace of whatsoever description, industrial, political or social, has been purchased at the price of war. There is more talk of peace, and less peace, than the world has ever known since Jesus Christ left the earth. Some of the talk about peace has become hysterical in character. I am in favor of peace whenever peace can be obtained upon righteous grounds. Paul says, 'As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' The world is not yet ready to enter into a perfect and universal peace. The mistake we are making in these days is that peace is a matter of treaties, of legislation.

"Christianity carries a banner of peace, but behind it is the army of omnipotent power, and the conditions of peace, as far as wrong is concerned, are unconditional surrender.

"We have no selfish motives in our relation with Mexico. There can be no peace until the last bandit gang has been run to earth, and Christianity and education have taken the place of superstition and ignorance. As long as there is any hope of a nation saving itself, it ought to have the honor and privilege of doing it, but when there is not, the laws of humanity, the laws between nations, and the laws of God declare these conditions should cease. Whatever this country does for Mexico should not be done selfishly, but to bring the blessings of national health and national sanity, and honest rule and fair dealing to her. The world will never improve upon the method of the Cross. God save us from war, if possible, but above all things, keep us true to Him, and the ideals of our Nation."

—The Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois, June 26, 1916, p. 9.

Note: Pancho Villa and revolution were a major thing in 1916. At Wikipedia there's an article on Villa. And just a comment on Henry Ford, it's amazing when you look back how radical this guy was, and usually on the wrong side from what the mainstream would be and even common sense. Getting up into World War II, all the stuff with antisemitism, etc., he didn't seem to have much sense.

Methodist Minister Prevents Lynching

Roseville, Ohio, 1904

PREACHER STOPS LYNCHING.

Feeling Runs High in Roseville, Ohio, Over Incendiary Fires.

Three alleged incendiary fires occurred in the village of Roseville, Ohio, during twelve hours. The money loss is small, but the excitement of the residents reached a crisis when a crowd of men gathered in the center of the town intent upon doing violence to two men, Kid Wilson, colored, and Charles Carnes, white, who had been arrested on suspicion. Rev. Luther J. Smith, the Methodist minister of the town, mounted a box and dissuaded the crowd from doing any unlawful act. The authorities believe they know who the firebug is, but deem it unsafe to take him into custody now, fearing violence of an extreme character.

—The Iowa Recorder, Greene, Iowa, November 30, 1904, page 2.