Stephen Graham, in his book, “Russia and the World,” tells of a Russian who asked him the question: “Have you heard the earth crying?” Mr. Graham asked him what he meant. He replied:
“Why, I’ve heard her crying. As I lay in the grass, with my ear to the ground, I heard her. Like this―oo-m, oo-m, oo-m. It was the time the soldiers were being mobilized, and women were sobbing in every cottage and at every turning in the road, so it may only have been that I heard. But it seemed to me that the earth herself was crying, so gently, so sadly, that my own heart ached.”
And Mr. Graham said: “I understood what he meant. One night in September, when I saw the first big, moist, yellow leaves come down on the wind, a thought whispered itself to my heart―the soldiers are dying! As I lay abed, long, after midnight, and listened to the moaning wind, I thought, what many will think this autumn―the leaves are falling, falling-and away, far away on the battlefield, the soldiers are dying, dying.”
Yes, they are dying, dying; their wounded bodies forming, a bulwark between their nation and the foe. Dying; and some of them unprepared for death. A Sergeant writes me of one of his men who was wounded; who said to his chum: “I don’t want to die yet. I am not prepared to meet my God.” The Sergeant continues:—
“This fact only came to my knowledge today, but it has aroused in me a sense of my responsibilities. Hitherto, it has been a word here and there, as opportunity offered, but now it is impressed upon me that something more active is necessary. If you could send me a parcel of your publications, I should be deeply grateful, and if you could include a few Testaments, I will see that they are well distributed... We are a small company, about one hundred strong, and do not get the services of a Chaplain. I should like to do something for my King and Saviour, and if, you can help me in this way, you will greatly oblige. ―Yours sincerely in Christ, Arthur S. Butcher, Sgt. R.E.”
Yes, the earth is crying to God now, for men are dying―dying―and the immortal souls of tens of thousands are passing into eternity. They want the Word of the living God. A soldier writes from the Royal Flying Corps: ―
“Dear Sir, ―You were kind to send me a pocket Testament a few days ago, for which I thank you. Since then I have been chatting with the men here, and find that there are only about seven out of a few hundred who possess a Testament, and I have promised to supply their wants through your generosity; therefore I should be glad if you would send me a parcel of, say, one hundred, for me to distribute with further supply if needed―the men are anxious to do right, ―
L. T. W. G.―”