Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1917)
9 BROADER PATRIOTISM IS URGED BY DR. LUTHER R. DYOTT Human Race Declared to Be Improving in Spite of War and TMo re Reverence for Lord's Day Is Deemed Necessary. THE StfND.VY OREGOXIAX," 'PORTfAXD, JUNE 3." 1917.' THE HIGHER HEROISM. BY LUTHER R. DTOTT. f First Congregational Church. We will triumph In thy salvation tvlctory) and In the nam of our God we will act up our banners. fialm xi:5. THE common heart of our much abused mankind, notwithstanding its Imperfections, has usually held ome appreciation of heroism. Our contempt for cowardice intimates our approval of courage. The world has never been altogether a laggard for the Want of heroes of some sort. It is not quite possible, however, for the heroes of one g to complete the programme for herehood for all ages, because the greatest law of life reso lutely requires progress and develop ment. Hence, eventually, we decline to limit heroic deeds to their more brutal expressions, and are unwilling to acknowledge that the heroic age is altogether in the past. Some of it was there, but not all of it. What was there could never, suffice the demands of today, and what we. have today will not be equal to the needs of the world tomorrow. There was a time when Greece had no city, town or district in !rh their heroes were not worshiped by the Bide of their higher divinities, but such worship today would result in the despiritualization of our. modern manhood. . Heroism la Progreaalve. Heroism of the right sort is really a progressive thing. It is never to be outgrown, but Its manifestations are bound to change from time to time as we go forward. Here are found much of hope for the future, and a great deal to help our belief in tne Improvability of man. Even the crude types and forms of heroism, measured at first by bloody deeds, had in them vague and Ill-defined prophecies of higher loyal ties, nobler enthusiasms and the finer courage of souls given to God, who breathed immortal fire into our inmost being that he may produce an adequate manhood, and then we find that ap preciation contributes to inspiration. But not all heroes are crowned upon earth. Neither do the best of them always receive the plaudits of their brothers. Still they grow beyond de pendence upon the flattery of mortal tongues, or the fear of what men can do unto them. These things count for something in a world that offered a cruel cross, a crown of thorns, rough nails and a sharp sword to' the best friend it ever had the Savior of the world. Higher Rare . Expected. Neither Unkind enemies nor obsequi ous flatterers can give wholesome food, or present Insuperable obstacles to po tential manhood. struggling upward from its embryo to the measure of the stature of the fullness of mental and moral giants, who never depend upon the. sincerity of sycophants, and who fear martyrdom less than the failure to be men. Humanity will yet present a race of heroes of the highest grade, rising grandly above ferocious levels, and dwelling where the moral atmos phere is pure and clean, and the out look upon life is vast and comprehen sive, and heroic hearts shall yet throb in deeds of brotherly kindness. The incidental movements of life, characterized by retroaction and the occasional falling back to the more primitive types, such ' as the world is now witnessing on the part of Ger many, cannot ultimately prevent the triumph of the human family in higher things, and with this triumph will come the demonstrations of the higher hero ism; indeed, it may be said that, very largely, by means of this higher hero ism, such triumph will come. " Triumph) of Truth Hope. ' - Higher heroism has a vital relation to the best things in human life, such as truth, freedom, love, civilization and unselfish service to God and man. There Is no real freedom save in the triumph of truth. There is no triumph of truth save as men know it. embody It. live It. apply it. and. if need be, die for it. Only heroes of a high order can give themselves unreservedly to truth, and become free indeed. " Jesus taught thts when he said to those who thought they were free, but were not: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall, make you free." Jesus was the truth.' and he said of himself: "I am the way, and " the . truth, and the life, no one cometh to the Father but by me." We can never become hewcy? brothers to one another until we find it through our heavenly Father. Jesus gave the key to his whole life and mission upon earth . when he said: "To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." Would you know the deeper meaning of higher heroism? Follow him. Bear witness to that expression of truth needed by the times in which we live. Love to God and. man. which must go with our loyalty to truth, includes all other loves that are real and worth while: assuredly the love of home and our native, or adopted land. When one grasps the American idea, and understands what this idea is, and what our national Ideals ' are, he is certainly something less than a man If he cannot love them, and long that all, the Nations of the earth may yet possess them, and be influenced and guided by them. If out of a world war shall come the triumph - of liberty, equality, fraternity and co-operation, will the price we pay for this triumph be too great? ' Beyond it all will be a better field for the higher heroism where men shall be able to ay. "The world is our field, and 'to do good is our religion." Higher 'Stage. Predicted.. ' We are bound to outgrow: the ele ments of sayagism. barbarism and pa ganism persisting in much of our present-day civilization, for the best is yet to come.' . . . These aspirations ' toward higher things were somewhat foreshadowed in 'the confused dreams of those who lived in other days and who somehow thought of the ages as bearing a rela tionship .to .one another and as mani festing certain traits belonging to them. Hesiod, mentioned these ages as being five and called attention to their characteristics. The golden age. which was patriarchal and simple: the, silver age, -which was godless and voluptu ous: the brazen age, which was war like, wild and violent: the heroic age, which accorded a place to the demi gods; the iron age, in which justice, piety and faithfulness had vanished from the earth." He believed the last mentioned to be.' the age in which he lived. Ovid follows the general idea of Hesiod.. but he omits the heroic age. Mythology and astronomy met and the golden age was supposed to be gov erned by Saturn, the silver age by Ju piter, the brazen by Neptune, and the iron by Pluto. Beyond such fanciful and curious conceptions the modern mind sees the better meaning of the strange dream. Let us acknowledge that our age is a sort of conglomera tion of that which Hesiod mentioned. We have about all the things he de scribed and might despair on account of the seeming perponderance of the ills and evils of the age in which we live, if all men were to attempt to do without God and his way of victory. But here, there and almost everywhere today there are those who are saying: "We will triumph in thy victory and in the name of our God we will set up our banners." The spirit back of all thts is that of the higher heroism, born i of God. Our text belongs to a liturgical psalm which was sung in honor of the king who was about to go forth to war. This poem was chanted In alternate voices by. the congregation and the priest, or levite, who led the choir. As the king stood within the sanctuary, offering his sacrifice, the concourse of worship ers in the spacious courts lifted up their voices in the prayer contained in the first five verses. Then the leader responded in verses six to eight. Then all joined in chanting verse nine. This people had one common banner for all. which was conspicuously exhibited that all might see it. Then each of the tribes had its own tribal banner. The common banner for all Christendom is the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our denominational banners must find their best meaning in their subservient relation to the supreme banner of the cross of Christ. In no other way can we make these denom inational banners mean what they should. Our great business in united efforts should foster and develop a splendid and well-sustained valor, with an utter fearlessness that shall win the day for God. The church militant has yet many battles to fight, and it can never afford merely to .take care of itself, and be come selfish and weak in the posses sion and enjoyment of. enervating-luxuries. The love of ease and the love of God are never joined in holy wedlock. Faith in God and fear of man never make good traveling companions. Physical courage and moral cowardice are incongruous. Moral Courage deeded. When a" person ' Is a Christian in many desirable respects, and is yet lacking in moral courage, that person is not quite a Christian. No - moral coward is a mighty Christan. -The hgher heroism is demanded of the fol lowers of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are not to set up- our banners In ec clesiastical closets, but out In life's dangerous places, where vital issues are involved.' Part of the reproach of the modern church is that the world does not take it seriously enough to persecute it. We have not enough wounds to entitle us to the claim of be ing a society of saviors. We are not good soldiers of Christ when we re main a bunch of slackers. Religion is minus in momentum and aggressive ness to the needed degree until its ameliorating -influence is felt every where in the affairs of men on earth: The religious life needed by .the world today requires a certain heroic plus on the part of its adherents. The way to make the salt of the earth ef ficacious is not ta keep it in a box of conservatism, but to dissolve it In that which needs to be seasoned of the good. We must get into contact with life as it is in order to make it what it ought to be. '.Sprinkle the salt where it is needed. Rub it in. if necessary. "There are so many places where the higher heroism is needed. Notice a few of these.. It is needed in the church, that here we may all have courage to follow truth, no matter where it may lead, and to live it. no matter what it may cost; to declare it, in love, no matter what may be the intimidations, or resentment, or lack of responsiveness on the part of those who so sorely need it. If here and there, now and again, our plows strike stones, let us continue until we find better ground. It does require an im mense amount of patience, fortitude and endurance, but when the evening sun kisses the serene sky we shall feel more of the genuine thrill of hero ism in the increased area , of a nobler manhood that at least dared to try. Religious persons should not be afraid to participate in politics. Here the word politics is used in its correct sense. The definition given is "The sci ence of government: that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a city, c state, or a na tion, for the preservation of Its peace, prosperity and safety," and the dellver- anceof its life In the Interest, of the. greatest possble good. . -Timidity often suggests to good men and women that religion and politics cannot mix. Well, if this be so. there Is something wrong with one or the other, or both, and the sooner the cor rection is made, th better.. We should insist upon putting the right men into public'of fices: men who have the right sort of convictions, and who possess the courage of such convictions; men who cannot be bought or sold; who cannot be swayed by paltry influences: or diverted from the right by partisan pressure, or vassal ed by either moboc racy, . or plutocracy; men who ' are strong in moral courage. Brains and business ability are desirable; but these are not all. An unblemished reputa tion, an-excellent icharacter, and a high moral' courage are, also, needed by our public officials. Church members should show their hands on election day. and then feel that all is not done. They can make solid and lasting contribu tions to public sentiment in its bear ing upon law enforcement and ad vancement in all manner of patriotism and good citizenship. This does broad en the meaning of religion, but its meaning should be broadened. Moreover, we need a practical pa triotism that shall rescue forever the meaning of Memorial "day. All too long we have allowed it, in the main, to be a gala. day. We have permitted the youth of our land to grow up without any marked retpect. or reverence, for It. They Wave thought of It as a day for excursions, picnics, games and hi larity. - We have don a little better this year, but there is still room for perpetual improvement in this respect, as in .all, others. 'Hawthorne la Quoted. Hawthorne says. "A hero cannot be a hero unless In an heroic world." We should keep alive the spirit of the heroes who saved the Union, by teach ing and emphasizing the lessons of Memorial day.. This will help to de velop a better patriotism In our yoting people. With unfeigned gratitude we should never forget those who gave their lives that not one star might he blotted from the best flag in the world. Iet us remember, also, those of the veterans who still survive for a few years more before the starlight falls throuerh the rift in the tent. Even those .who once sympathized with the Confederacy, should now be glad of the outcome, while the North. South, East and West, stand' heart to heart, and shuolder to shoulder, fac ing .a world war In which America is committed to the programme of mak ing the world a fit place for democracy not only to persist, but to unfurl its banners over all the world; which, please God.', is intended for all the world, though now-democracy-and au tocracy, are In a death grapple, and America Is beginning to pay the awful price of her heaven-born convictions. Patriotism Is Irged. Our country is asking for more money and more men. , Every person who can do his part through the liberty loan movement should promptly and gladly respond. This is one way of helping to defeat imperialism. Our brave young men are enlisting for service, and 100, 000 Americana will soon be in France. It is not asking too much of those of us who cannot enlist to put up our money for, our country's cause while others are offering their lives. That was a high order' of .heroism which saved our Union. Will history record that even a. higher heroism saved democracy to the world, and forever put an end to. autocracy? ' in the meantime we should not over look other matters requiring atten tion in the field of higher heroism. One of these is a better observance or the Lord's day - All religius persons do not seem to realize the seriousness of the condition here: while those who do in some Instances, become more or less fanatical, and are ready to advocate ex treme and impossible remedies. We dr. not need to return to the days of a severe Puritanism In. Sabbath observ ance. We should not attempt to meet the extremes of latitudinarianlsm with the extremes of fanaticism and Phari saism. ' ' - ' r Medium Path Advocated. We should not Insist upon an Irra tional and impossible thing in this seri ous matter. Too much legislation might defeat the very thing needed. The dear public is an exposed nerve, and is very sensitive to any encroachment upon what it regards as its libertes and rights. Some religious persons make much ado about the observance of the sev enth day Instead of the first day of the week. We are advised, therefore, that this or that is not expedient. Still It Is not a mere question of expediency. What is the right thing? An ounce of right is worth more than a ton of expediency." Kven broadmlnded per sons must see that we have swung too far toward an extreme which, to say the least, does not contribute to the welfare of all who should be concerned. Many good church members are mak ing the Lord's day mean little, or noth ing more than one service a day and perhaps the Bible-school hour. The re mainder is given to selfish, physical pleasure, for which inexcusable ex cuses are offered, without any seem ing compunction of conscience. Neglected Generally. Some habitually neglect the public worship of God, and find the day a con venient time to do "little odd. Jobs." Well, it is odd enough In the sight of God that persons who owe all good to God should begrudge him one-seventh of time for that which, is more than the material things. Actors, actresses and others must work on the Lord's day because the amusement-mad crowd and ' the money-lovers who have in vestments in theatrical and baseball enterprises have decreed that these things must be so. Many others are compelled to work on the Lord's day because the public demands It. You say. what about ministers? The question is somewhat nonsensical, but the respectful reply is that here work means worship. Motion-picture shows, theatrical performances, ball games, etc., are not works of mercy and ne cessity on the Lord's day. Nothing less than moral heroism can bring this day up to the designed place in God's order tor mans good, and for this the plea is hereby entered. You under stand that the plea Is not for the im possible, the unreasonable, the fanat ical, but for that which would be bet ter for all a better observance of the Lord's day. Let It be remembered that a Sabbathless nation means at length a churchless nation, and a churchless na tion means a godless nation, and a godless nation cannot long survive, and never can fulfill its mission. Readjoatment la Coming. Again, the higher heroism has a great work to do In the social order. Life among human beings has become more complex and Its complicated problems are more perplexing than ever before. New problems have arisen. 0..,ers are yet to come. The world after the war will front many new and difficult sit uations. We will suddenly meet many things for which we are not now pre paring. We shall not prove that we are equal to all emergencies unless three other facts become more ap parent, namely, these: First A reproduction of the life of Christ in his followers; second, a clear understanding of the teachings of Christ, especially his social teachings; third, a closer contact of religious life with all life as it actually is. These things are now needed, and will yet be needed in greater measure. - - Many on Wrong Track. Many poor persons and many rich persons, and many modern philosophers are on the wrong track. In some in stances they are attempting to run through a switch which has not been properly adjusted. The poor cannot afford to hate the rich, and to regard them as parasites. The rich cannot af ford to rob and deepise the poor and to Ignore their problems. Our institu tions of higher learning cannot afford to become socialistic. Our pulpits can not afford to remain silent on the problems of everyday life. .Ministers should be real leaders in setting up banners whera they should be placed, and in helping to win new victories in the work-a-day world. The greatest victories in the world are not won through the spilling of blood, but in the giving of life where it is needed in other ways. Not even the life of Jesus Christ was ended on Calvary. Neither was Christ silent on such questions as concern men today. He was a Socialist in that he believed that each should live for all and all for each, but he was not a Socialist of such types as we have today and he certainly was not an anarchist. He never advocated or condoned lawless ness and acts of violence. He set up the great supreme banner, but he did not always respond to the demands of men. He did. however, always respond to the.lr needs. When one of the mul titude said to him. "Bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." he de clined to do so and said to this man and others, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life conslst eth not in the abundance of things he possesseth." Like him we must be well poised, though others be heated and foolish. Like him we must invest life where it is .most needed and. in the manner most needed and then be strong enough patiently to await the results.- This. also. Is heroism and it is heroism of the highest grade, able to Christianise the whole social order. The inspiration to the higher heroism for inspiration,- perennial Inspiration It does need is found in the God-filled life. "In the name of our God we will set up our banners." His name, our banners. To do a thing in the name of our God really means that we do it because his nature Is In us and we sim ply cannot help-doing it on account of the impelling power of the God-tilled man or woman. To do anything in his name when that deed does not comport with his nature is to take God's name In vsin. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" has a much larger meaning than the commentators usually give it. It forbids more than -false swearing, per jury and all unholy mention of the name of God. He also is guilty of pro fanity who takes God's name without manifesting his nature and who im piously tries to associate God with that which Is not of God. When the German Emperor declares that God is on the side of Germany In this terrible war, 'perhaps he may believe it. with the wish as father to the thought, but it Is most difficult to think that any sane man can accept any such arrant nonsense or indorse such blasphemy. In the. name and nature of our (Jod we will set up our banners. Where? Wherever they are doing his will on earth as it is done in heaven: wherever men are weak and we can show them how to be strong: at home, abroad, everywhere our banners' of love, of truth, of light, of freedom, of righteousness must : triumphantly .be set up in God's name, while, at the cen ter of all shall remain the banner of the cross of Christ and the. heroes of the cross shall stand forth at last as the greatest heroes of the ages. Humanity Xot Retrograding. Humanity is not on the down grade. Beyond the blood-drenched mist in the valley, beyond the. shadows on the bosom of the mountain, beyond the hill crest, lie not only the plains of peace, but of plenty and of all good, for which the world lias waited so long. No man can be a pessimist' who knows God. None can be cowards who are filled with his life, his love, his power. Neither can they be destitute of thw required inspiration to the higher hero ism. Notwithstanding all things that seem to be to the contrary, humanity is on the upgrade and the best is yet to come. We should all decide to embody and apply the spirit of the higher heroism and to line up with the most heroic in the world. Many of us may have to make some divine adjustments in or der to live for God as we should, which means that we must live or die for man. Then God puts love In our hearts and banners In our hands and new life In . our souls and our Interpretation of all life Is made In divine terms and we are ready to live or die for him. Sometimes the former may demand more heroism than the latter. 'TIs great to die for God And wear the martyr's crown of light. But he who lives for Uod May be a greater uro in his sight. BISHOP GETS $125,000 Jubilee Gift Made by Parishioners to Catholic Prelate. NEW YORK. May 23. The Right Rev. Charles Edward McDonnell, bishop of tne uatnonc diocese or tirooKiyn ana Long Island, received 1 125.000 recently aa a jubilee ren.emberbrance from his parishioners and priests. The presentation was made by the Right Rev. Mgr. E. W. Mccarty, im mediately after Rev. Father Campbell had preached the sermon of the jubilee pontifical mass In St James' pro cathedral, Brooklyn, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the bishop's episco pacy. It had been known that a purse was to be given to the bishop. Its size, par ticularly as it was collected within three days, came as a pleasant surprise, however. Bishop McConnell celebrated the pon tifical high mass. He was assisted by dignitaries of the church presided over by the Most Rev. John Bonzano, apos tolic delegate at Washington. Bishop Hayes, of the archdiocese of New York, and 15 other bishops from other parts of the country, participated in the services. Four hundred Brooklyn and Long Island priests and about 0 visiting priests attended. Twenty-five brothers of St. Francis and the Christian teach ing orders and 20 nuns also were present. DRAFT AIMS AT LOAFERS Ohio Town Plans to At All Idlers First of All. EAST LI VF.RPOOU O- May 2l. Loafers will be the first men drafted In this city, according to H. P. McCarron. who has been designated by the Eat Liverpool committee on defense as cen sus taker in the listing of all men in h.ast Liverpool who will b eligiole for drafting ss soon as the proposed law becomes effective. Mr. McCarron will begin his work of enumerating at once. 'According to the plans, the census taker will first secure the names of men and boys who make a habit of loafing about poolrooms, saloons and street corners, and they will be the first to he drafted. He will, however, secure data con cerning every man in this city between the ages of 21 and 35. for use when the military department starts to put its conscription measure into effect. "BLUE BOOK" SUSPENDS Chicago's Fashionable List Finds Cost Too Great. CHICAGO. May 20. Chicago's "blue book" has been suspended. The volume "containing a list of fashionable addresses" has been sup planted largely by other sources of In formation and is no longer profitable. "It was a money-making proposi tion io years ago, saiq ueorge w. Overton, president of the Chicago Di rectory -Company. "The higher cost of materials was an influence for its !,AAtlmla(lAn - W mov v mil an edition every third or fourth year." " ClOT g Many requests have come for embroidery fealgns that are dainty and yet simple, and fcne win. be printed each Sunday for a few . weeks. This -week a simple bow knot and butterfly design !s shown for a nightgown or combination. -A. aatim stitch or com tana. tion of satin, outline, and buttonhole gives ' In using the printed design from the paper excellent results. the directions are as follows: If the material . Detail drawings show method of .working.. . is sheer, the easiest way is. to lay it over the. design, which will show through plainly, and draw over each line with a hard, sharp Uad.pencU. If the.m&terlai la heavy, buy a piece of Impression paper, lay it en your ma terial, place the design over it, and traee .with a hard pencil.
