Intercession: A Sermon Preached by the Rev. B. N. Michelson, B.A

In Short

Delivered on the eve of 1916’s close, this Jewish sermon addresses a British congregation weathering the horrors of World War I. Rev. B. N. Michelson urges his listeners to maintain their moral integrity amid total warfare, avoid consumed hatred, and recognize their civic and religious duties. Framing the conflict through the Joseph narrative, he calls for spiritual self-examination, generous support for wounded soldiers and Belgian victims, and gratitude for the fallen. The text survives as a poignant document of Anglo-Jewish patriotism, interfaith solidarity, and ethics under the weight of national crisis.

The Story

Rev. B. N. Michelson opens his discourse on a solemn Sabbath at the end of December 1916, taking his text from Genesis, where Joseph declares that God sent him ahead to preserve life by a great deliverance. Against the backdrop of unprecedented national grief and effort, Michelson frames the upcoming New Year intercession as a rare moment of unity across religious bodies. Human pride and strength have failed, making room for the ancient wisdom of a humble heart.

Acknowledging that the nation is overshadowed by the fears and resentments of a fierce war, the speaker insists that believers must maintain mental and moral balance to avoid being swallowed by hate. While he refuses to condone the atrocities committed by enemy forces—citing the tragic fates of Nurse Cavell and Captain Fryatt—he appeals to both history and psychology to warn against deeming an entire nation irredeemable. Civilized humanity, he argues, carries underlying brute instincts that surface when the artificial auxiliaries of order break down during wars or revolutions.

Looking ahead to emerging talk of peace, Michelson advocates for a settlement that enthrones global justice, punishes war criminals, and eventually restores the German people to civilized fellowship. He then turns to the immediate duty of practical relief. Highlighting the severe famine and disease facing millions of occupied Belgians, he calls on his congregation to practice a charity that extends beyond their own faith. While loyalty to fellow Jews remains paramount, true religion requires aiding all children of God, starting with support for the Sick and Wounded Fund for soldiers and sailors.

Finally, the sermon reflects on the profound loss of life. Michelson meditates on the mystery of human sacrifice, contrasting man’s ordinary selfishness with the noble impulse to lay down one's life for an ideal. Mourning the loss of thinkers, artists, and ordinary citizens, he praises the quiet dignity of grieving parents. He concludes by commending the souls of the fallen to divine mercy, urging the living to remain worthy of their sacrifice.

How It Unfolds

The call to intercession Opening with Joseph’s declaration from Genesis, the preacher calls for spiritual humility and interfaith unity on the eve of the New Year, framing the nation's wartime efforts as a pursuit of divine justice against barbarism and slavery.

Guarding the moral self The sermon warns against succumbing to blind hatred despite the atrocities committed by enemy forces, using historical and psychological insights to explain how war shatters the artificial disciplines of civilization and releases man's latent brute nature.

Vision for a righteous peace Addressing early discussions of peace, the speaker insists upon a treaty rooted in global justice and the targeted punishment of war criminals, allowing long-term reconciliation and international goodwill to replace lingering resentment.

Practical relief and broad charity Reflecting on the suffering of occupied Belgium and the sacrifices of British troops, the preacher urges his listeners to expand their benevolence past sectarian boundaries to support all who suffer, specifically appealing for contributions to the Sick and Wounded Fund.

Honoring the supreme sacrifice The final section offers a tribute to the fallen, exploring the spiritual mystery of self-sacrifice and praising bereaved families for their silent fortitude, concluding with a prayer that their memory will forever inspire the nation's soul.

The People

Rev. B. N. Michelson The acting minister speaking to his congregation. He seeks to guide his community through acute grief and war weariness without letting them lose their moral compass. Standing in the tradition of prophetic ethics, he wants his listeners to remain loyal to their Jewish identity while embracing their broader civic responsibilities to the British nation and humanity at large.

The Fallen and the Wounded Represented collectively, these are the soldiers, sailors, artists, thinkers, and ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the war. They want to fulfill their obligation to their country and the ideals of eternal right. In doing so, they display a profound spiritual impulse that transcends earthly selfishness, ultimately leaving behind a legacy of solemn duty.

The Bereaved Families The parents and loved ones left behind in Britain. Facing the loss of their children, they strive for quiet dignity, choosing constructive works of charity and patience over uncomplaining bitterness, thereby modeling the strength of the nation's soul.

The Suffering Civilians of Belgium The millions trapped under foreign occupation. Starving on dwindling rations and facing wasting diseases, they maintain a stubborn passive resistance behind enemy lines, standing as a living testament to the human cost of the conflict and the necessity of international relief.

In Its Own Voice

"In a time of effort, suffering and grief such as this country has never before known, it is well that we should have frequent occasions for a review of the position in which we stand..."

The preacher introduces the necessity of national self-examination during times of deep crisis.

"Civilisation represents an elaborate system of auxiliary disciplines, designed to stifle as far as may be the brute in man and to strengthen the acquired qualities of justice, mercy and refinement."

Here the sermon explores how wartime violence threatens to undo the delicate moral progress of human history.

"On the one hand is man selfish, greedy, earth-bound, false and sordid in his aims. On the other, at repeated intervals, in great and solemn hours, comes this austere appeal for all he has to give—and he promptly gives it..."

The text meditates on the dual nature of human character when confronted by a high moral calling.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the sermon explores how a faith community preserves its ethical integrity during total war. Michelson grapples with the tension between legitimate national defense and the corrupting influence of righteous anger. By examining the psychology of violence, he argues that brutality is a human vulnerability rather than an inherent trait of a single nation, demanding that victory be tempered with justice rather than revenge. Furthermore, the text addresses the nature of duty and self-transcendence, arguing that the willingness to die for an ideal exposes the innate spiritual dignity of mankind. Finally, it asserts that religious loyalty must not turn inward; genuine devotion to God demands universal empathy and active charity toward every suffering human being.

Why Read It Today

This short publication offers a valuable historical lens into the Anglo-Jewish experience during the First World War. Readers drawn to military history, homiletics, or early twentieth-century religious thought will appreciate its dignified tone and intellectual precision. Michelson’s writing avoids sensationalism, offering instead a calm, measured contemplation of suffering, duty, and international ethics.

The sermon presents few reading difficulties, though modern readers may occasionally find its early twentieth-century rhetorical style formal or its historical references to specific wartime events—such as the executions of Edith Cavell and Charles Fryatt, or the condition of occupied Belgium—requiring brief context. Its core arguments about preserving humanity amidst conflict and resisting xenophobic hatred remain strikingly relevant. It stands as a moving reflection on how faith can serve not as an instrument of belligerent nationalism, but as a stabilizing force for moral reason, compassion, and hope in dark times.