FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY

ANDOVER-LARVARD THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY

SEP 4 1918

ANDOVER

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Printed in the United States of America

New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London : 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street

T

I

HE United States is gradually beginning to realize that it really is at war. Prices

are soaring, conscription has passed and when it becomes operative we shall realize as we have not yet done that war is upon us. Commissions have been here from England, France, Italy and Russia conferring with the government on methods of warfare, and on the part the United States is to take in the conflict.

There are a great many good Christians in the United States who do not like war but who feel that this war was inevitable and that the country was dragged into it by no fault of its own. They have found it difficult to reconcile themselves to it, and probably would not have been able to do so for the excuses given for entering upon the war. Now that they have discovered that the real reason for President Wilson taking the step he did was the fear expressed to him by the Allies that the outcome was extremely dubious unless they had immediate help, these people have become more resigned to it. They see that we are faced with two alternatives, Prussianism or democracy ruling the future, and that democracy and all it stands for is in danger of being lost both to the old world and to the new. It was this that pressed

The

us into the war, and not simply a desire to protect American property and American lives. President, of course, intimated this in his proclamation, but it would have been better if the administration had frankly told the real facts at that time instead of waiting until now.

It may

be a long war, it may be a short one. be a short one. Nobody knows anything about it, and all prophesyings are valueless. Of this, however, we may be certain: that it will not stop immediately, and that we are soon going to be involved in it on the seas, and a little later on the land.

The Christian in war time! How strange it sounds! But it is a fact. Being a fact, Christian people have got to adjust themselves to the new situation. Especially is this true since the Christian is by profession a believer in goodwill and peace. He has got to face the fact that, much as he regrets it, he is at war with another group of people which also calls itself Christian and acknowledges the same Lord, and he has got to take part in the maiming and destruction of these people, although doing so, as he sincerely believes, to save civilization and Christianity to the world. The Christian in war time; how shall he conduct himself?

In the first place he should see to it that never is the war degraded into a desire for aggrandisement, or for territory, or for revenge or retaliation; not even in order to protect American

property. The preacher in the pulpit, the Chris-
tian editor in his paper, the layman in all his
conversation must see that the war is waged only
with those high ends in view which were pro-
claimed by the President of the United States at
the beginning, and were given as the motive of
our nation in entering upon this road of terrible
suffering and sacrifice. Let us recall his words
to our minds. He said "Our object now, as then,
is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice
in the life of the world as against selfish and auto-
cratic power, and to set up among the really free
and self-governed peoples of the world such a con-
cert of purpose and of action as will henceforth
ensure the observance of these principles.
It is a fearful thing to lead this peaceful people
into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of
all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the
balance. But the right is more precious than
peace, and we shall fight for the things which we
have always carried nearest our hearts-for
democracy, for the right of those who submit to
authority to have a voice in their governments,
for the rights and liberties of small nations, for
a universal dominion of right by such a concert
of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world itself at last free."

This is the noblest proclamation of war that has ever been written. If war were ever permissible in the Christian ethic it would be only,

Wilson

with such a purpose or for the immediate de fense of an attacked nation. If we must enter upon this war, then, let every Christian man see that this purpose never be lost sight of in its course. Churches might well print on cards the section of the President's proclamation quoted and give it to every man enlisting in their parishes. There will be many who will try as time goes on to turn it into a war of conquest. Many will begin to insist that the United States have a part in the spoils. If American ships are sunk many will begin to cry for revenge. The Christians, the churches, must resist all clamor of this baser sort and insist that the war be waged only for universal democracy, the rights of the smaller nations and the future peace of the world.

The Christian must insist that no element of hatred be allowed to enter this war. He is the follower of Him who said, "Love your enemies." He loved them himself, and he who hates is no follower of Jesus Christ. Here again the President has spoken in Christian terms. He said: "We have no quarrel with the German people, we have no feeling towards them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon their impulse that their government acted in entering this war. It was not with their previous knowledge or approval. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty.