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Show MEMBERS OF EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OGDEN URGED TO DO- THEIR PART I IE WORLD'S WAR . i Onast Sundav, in the Church of tho Good Shepherd of Ogden, the following follow-ing pastoral letter of tho House of Bishops of the Episcopal church, bearing bear-ing on the war, was read: A Pastoral Letter. "Brethren of tho Clergy and Laity: Our nation is at war in behalf of justice, jus-tice, liberty and humanity. When these are in danger, the church's station is at tho front. ' "When the nation has with solemn deliberation entered war. voices which have spoken for neutrality, none-resist-ance or pacifism are silenced. We hate war, and shrink from its horrors, but wo who enjoy the privileges of civil liberty won by the blood of our fathers must," when they are endangered, defend de-fend them at the coBt of our blood. In the overthrow- of injuBtico and inhumanity in-humanity is the only hope of permanent perma-nent peace. Loyalty demands of every citizen unconditional consecration consecra-tion to tho service of tho nation. "We thank God that from thoir homes and parish churches havo gone the boys and men of the church, eager to do their duty wherever the nation sends them. Wo watch them with pride as they are mustered into the army and navy. "As the nation Is preparing to enter the awful conflict, we, your bishops, remind you of certain definite duties and opportunities: "1. A nation fighting to keep the world safe for democracy must In character and action bo truo to democracy. democ-racy. Racial strife, class antagonism, impurity and intemperance wreck civil liberty. Before we can conquer injustice and inhumanity in others, wo must first overcome them in ourselves. Our guilt in those respects we must acknowledgo with shame. We expect of our soldiers and sailors concentration concen-tration of thought and action, self-discipline, self-discipline, courago and serenity under stress. Wo can demand no loss of ourselves. In humility and sincerity wo must live by the principles for which we fight. National character, gives thrust and force to the national army. The war with all its suffering and loss may provo a blessing If it rouses us from the indifferouce to religion, to spiritual concerns and moral issues, which threatens our very life. "At the source and foundation of the character of this people aro Christ and His church. If the force of arms Is necessary to put down wilful disregard disre-gard of the rights and decencies of human life, it Is only by the peristent teaching of Christian principles that these can be preserved for ourselves or for tho world. We need plain teaching of the Christian religion, with its insistence on the claims of God and the claims of our fellowmen, and on God's present gifts of grace by His spirit through His church and sacraments sacra-ments to enable us to live up to the example and precepts of His incarnate incar-nate Son, our Lord. "2. Tho president has vell said that this is a war not of armies but of peoples. peo-ples. Every man, woman and child has a place and is enlisted in the cause, the army and navy at the front, wo close beside and behind them; though, they be In France and we in America, we are one with them, bound together in a common cause. Hence everything that we are and that we do will unite in their support. Every man on the fighting line, in hospital or on lonely guard duty, must feel behind and with him tho heart, sympathy sym-pathy and action of tho people. To express ex-press this, we must not only work for the Red Cross, and give generously in money and comforts; we must also be ready to pay heavy taxes cheerfully, and buy Liberty bonds. It is upon the people's substance that the armies move. "Failures In efficiency there axe and will be. Let us withhold criticism until we are sure it is justified. Rivalry for position or fame has no right place In war or in organized beneficence. Force depends on united action. "3. Next to the character and consecration con-secration of the people, tho fighting power of a nation is in the possession of the staples of life in food and clothing. cloth-ing. Upon the economy, simple habits and self-restraint of Christian people the nation has a right to call with confidence. con-fidence. Every housekeeper and child, every man, whether traveling or at home, has his dntv nn tn rovo fnnA clothing, money and everything as to provide for our allies and for ourselves. our-selves. Covotousness and the seeking of selfish gain in the country's time of need should be frowned upon as no less disgraceful than cowardice or rebellion. "4. The war department Is working out a great, and wo believe beneficent, experiment In warfare. Military dis cipline used to cut the armies off as much as possible from home and na't-ural na't-ural associations. Men in abnormal conditions become abnormal. A soldier sol-dier is still a man. Confident that the normal man Is the best fighter, the government is doing everything in its power consistent with military efficiency effi-ciency to keep the soldiers and sailors in touch with society and home, to encourage en-courage right associations with the women and girls in the neighborhood of tho camps, and to build up the men, I physically and morally, through recreation recrea-tion and social and religious influences. influ-ences. While we trust tho general high character and awakened moral scnao of our soldiers, every officer of tho church and every citizen should see to it that his town is clean enough for tho soldiers to roam in, and the officials and people should do their part to protect the girls of the neighborhood neigh-borhood as well as the men and boyo who have come from distant homes. "Grateful for the action of the president pres-ident and of congress in restricting the manufacture and sale of liquor, wo urge all to support the authorities in enforcing the law; and to set a personal per-sonal example of abstinence. "5. Tho war commission of tho church has been created to marshal the spiritual forces of the church for efficient action. "Wo want the church to follow our boys and men with sympathetic interest inter-est and to offer them tho sacraments and pastoral care. Reinforcing tho commissioned chaplains, voluntary chaplains of our communion, welcomed wel-comed by the authorities, will keep close to the camps and naval stations, both In this country and in France, and I give guidance and spiritual leadership to tho men. "Strong laymen also, member of tho Brotherhood of St. Andrew and others, engaged for that special work by the' commission, will, as secretaries of the Y. M. C. A., keep in touch with churchmen. church-men. Chaplains will be equipped; the namos of churchmen in tho national service will be listed; literature will bo sent; duplication of work and of, appeals for help will be avoided by coordination co-ordination of local efforts and church organizations with the war commission. commis-sion. "Within a few weeks tho commission commis-sion will ask of the church 500,000. Tho bishops aro confident that ovory loyal churchman and churchwoman will respond generously to this war call of the church. "6. Finally brethren, let us be earnest and constant in prayer, at homo and In church,.for God's blessing on what we aro confident is a righteous righte-ous cause; for tho president and his advisers; for our army and navy; and for. our sons, brothers and husbands, first that they may, in camp and battle, on leave and In hospital, be faithful and unafraid; then, if God wills, that they may have a safe return. "Let our churches be open for private pri-vate prayer, as well as for tho regular services, and for others of a less formal for-mal character, with opportunities afforded af-forded for the mention of particular 'persons and needs. "Let the opportunity of these days of stress and anxiety bo seized for tho preaching of the deep truths of the living God, our Judge and our loving Father, and of His Son, who, in becoming be-coming man, assures us of Plio sympathy sym-pathy with the struggles and sorrows of His people. "After war will come peace; let us prepare for it by sustaining a worthy spirit. Christian people will throughout through-out the war hold high the standard of chivalry and of charity. Reparation and not revenge must be tho object kept before us. We will control our feelings of resentment, and try to believe be-lieve tho best possible interpretation of tho motives and ideals of the people peo-ple who are lighting us and over whom we shall be victorious. "We will steadily press the education educa-tion of the young, and prepare them for a better citizenship than ours of today. "We will support and advance the cause of Christian missions with greater and not diminished loyalty and genorosity, knowing that it is v the power of Christ alone that will inspire and enable the nations of tho world to work together for peace and righteousness, righte-ousness, for human brotherhood and the fulfilment of human life in the Kingdom of God." |