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CHAPTER IV.

EXCUSE ME, SIR; I HAVE TO REPORT THAT THE SHIP HAS BEEN BLOWN UP AND IS SINKING.”—“BILL”

ANTHONY, OF THE

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MAINE."

PATRIOTIC DISCOURSES BY PASTORS OF MORRISTOWN, N. J.

N each of the wars in which the United States during

her brief but momentous national history has engaged, the American pulpit has proved itself a potent agency in the crystallization of an oft-times wavering public sentiment around the great principles involved in these successive struggles; and in assisting to fan the slumbering embers of patriotism into a vigorous flame which, in each instance, has ultimately consumed the enemies of Liberty, Union and Humanity.

When, therefore, in the early part of 1898, war between the United States and Spain became imminent, the pastors of Morristown, New Jersey, thoroughly conversant with the series of cumulative events culminating in the destruction of the "Maine," rendered invaluable aid, by instruction and incitement, from pulpit and platform, in the work of girding the people of this historic town for the impending struggle, which, in view of all the circumstances they were clearly impressed was to be waged in the interests of humanity; a struggle which resulted, as they confidently believed it would, in the complete expulsion from the western hemisphere of a decaying civilization which, from the hour of its establishment here four cen

turies ago, had entailed only hopeless degradation and suffering upon its victims.

This volume, designed to formally place Morristown and vicinity on record historically in connection with the Spanish-American War would, therefore, be conspicuously lacking if it did not contain a few at least of the patriotic discourses of its local pastors; hence, the following are presented, with an expression of regret on the part of the author that Morristown, in this feature of this volume, is not more fully represented.

II.

"Don't Cheer, Boys; the Poor Devils Are Dying"-Captain John W. Phillip of the "Texas."

Patriotic Discourse Delivered by Rev. Albert Erdman, D. D., Pastor of the South Street Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N. J., on Sunday Morning, April 24, 1898.

TEXTS:

Joshua 5:13-"Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?"

Exod. 17:15-"Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord my Banner."

There are lessons here not inappropriate to the present times. First of all, we have the fact of Jehovah-the Lord Christ-appearing to Joshua as a "man of war." It is worthy of profound attention how strikingly the manifestations of Jehovah accommodate themselves to the various circumstances of His people. To Abraham, a wanderer and sojourner in Canaan, He manifests Himself as a wayfaring man; to Moses, about to be called to lead out his people from Egyptian bondage, He reveals Himself as the Eternal "I Am," the God of the Covenant; so here to Joshua, a soldier and an officer, the Lord appears as a Soldier too, Captain of the Lord's host.

It is proper to ask, would the Almighty so frequently assume the form and present Himself in the attitude of a warrior if all war were wrong and sinful? It seems to me the question answers itself. None the less, in all circumstances, at all times, war is to be deprecated as one of the severest judgments of God. The evil passions it excites,

its ravages, its bloody conflicts, the distress and terror it carries into domestic life, the tears it draws from the widow and the fatherless, its fearful cost of life and treasure-all render war a tremendous scourge. Nevertheless, there are conditions in which war is justifiable, is necessary. It may be the last and only method of repelling lawless ambition and defending invaded liberty and essential rights. It may be the only method of preventing or repairing injury which God's providence points out by furnishing the means of successful warfare. In these cases we must not

shrink from war, though

even in these cases we should lament the necessity of shedding human blood. In such wars our country claims and deserves our prayers, our cheerful services, the sacrifice of wealth, and even of life. In such wars we are comforted when our friends fall on the field of battle, for we know that they have fallen in a just and honorable cause. Such conflicts, which our hearts

and consciences approve, are suited to exalt the character, to call forth generous sentiments, splendid virtues, to give ardor to the patriot, resolution to the hero, and a calm, unyielding fortitude to all classes of the community. It is a solemn question then which the lips of Joshua uttered"Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries ?"

To render a war justifiable it is not enough that we have received injuries; we must ask ourselves have we done our duty to the nation of which we complain ?" Have we taken and kept a strictly impartial position towards her and her enemies? Haye we sought reparation of injuries

in a truly pacific spirit? Have we insisted only on undoubted rights? Have we demanded no unreasonable concessions? Questions like these must be answered before we decide on the character of any particular war.

To these questions, in our relations with the Spanish Government concerning Cuban affairs, it seems to me but one answer can be given.

The only alternative would be to reply that it is no concern of ours what Spain may do in Cuba, or what scenes are transacted on its shores. But that would be horrible— the supremest selfishness. We cannot free ourselves from the responsibility which in the providence of God has been thrust upon us as a people.

What a feeling of indignation swept through the land at England's indifference or unwillingness to interpose, and with all the force at her command, to end the awful atrocities in Armenia! And yet the United States is more intimately and directly concerned in Cuba than England in Armenia.

And our government has felt this, not only now, but for years, and through successive administrations has earnestly sought a solution of the problem. Every resource in the interests of peace has been exhausted, and the awful fact remains that at our very doors, almost under the shadow of the flag we love and honor, scenes of horror and shameful cruelty are enacted, almost without parallel in human history. It certainly is a solemn and stern question, whether our sending supplies to the starving thousands of Cuba, the sacrifice of trade and treasure, the cost of maintaining the laws of neutrality, not to mention the awful crime of the destruction of our warship with its precious freight of human lives, due, to say the least, to the indifference or carelessness, not to say the actual connivance, of Spanish officials, do not lay upon us the duty and give us the right to intervene, and by force, if need be, to put an end to such shameful conditions, since it is in our power to end them, and Spain has shown herself unable and unwilling to do it. War is horrible and always to be de

plored, but so is the surgeon's knife. There come occasions when it is necessary and inevitable.

It is certain we are not seeking war for war's sake; we have no selfish end in view; it's not for ourselves we fight, if fight we must; it's no greed of empire or of gain, or to maintain rights of our own which are imperilled, but to meet a solemn responsibility in the providence of God forced upon us. We cannot, we may not, we must not, stand aloof and indifferent.

Unless Jehovah Himself interpose to turn the heart of the oppressor--and for this let us not cease continually to pray-it certainly would seem He has laid upon this nation the solemn responsibility of unsheathing the sword of justice. So be it, and God defend the right!

But in meeting this stern duty let us see to it that all is done in the name of Him whom Moses called "JehovahNissi, the Lord my Banner." Read Exod. 17, 8-16.

The first ap

Two conditions of success are indicated. parent condition was the courage and skill of the commander and his troops; but, and here is the great lesson of that conflict on the plain of Rephidim, it is courage and skill allied to and not separated from the fear and favor of Almighty God; in other words, dependence on the unseen spiritual forces of divine approval and help. And thus we have a second condition of success. Joshua fought while Moses was praying, and while he knew that Moses was praying. Both had a conscious hold on the strength of the arm of God. So it must be-so it is-in this present solemn crisis. The sure hope of victory is the assurance that God is on our side.

Let it constantly be kept in mind that we have not sought war. We do not want it, we have nothing to gain from it; it means the sacrifice of untold treasure and the awful cost of precious lives; but neither must we shrink from the stern and solemn responsibility of putting an end, in God's name, to the intolerable oppression and shameful cruelty that so long have desolated the fair island which is our nearest neighbor. But also let us not cease to pray