CHURCH AND WAR

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 19

CHURCH AND WAR

MR LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL NECESSITY OF ACTION (MOM OUtt OWN COEHESPONDENT.) LONDON, October 9. An address on peace was given by Mr Lloyd George, when he presided at a meeting held at the City Temple to welcome home Dr. F. W. Norwood after his 16 months' world tour. Signor Mussolini talked about training the children of Italy to the use of arms, said Mr Lloyd Geocge. A new poison gas had been invented in America. A death ray had been found in France. There had been a conference at Bristol which carried unanimously a resolution in favour of increased armaments for Great Britain. He was told that pilots were being trained in Germany for bombing. That was the world of to-day. It was a jungle, and the nations were prowling through it snarling at each other. At any moment a mis-' taken gesture or a misunderstood arrangement might make them spring again at each other's throats. The world wanted as many preachers of peace as it could get and as soon as possible. Others were mobilising their armies, preparing the guns and bombers; there was need to mobilise the forces of peace. During the last two or three years he had been walking in memory through that jungle from 1914 to 1918, every turn of it, reconstructing its horrors. What struck him most was not even the terrible carnage, but the absolute indifference with which it was regarded, the acquiescence of the most highly civilised nations in Christendom in all the destruction, devastation, slaghter, mutilation, and suffering. Barely Enough Time "When nations begin war humanity has been transformed into something which is different from the kindly, compassionate, friendly, brotherly sort of people you meet. You must stop it long before it begins. There is no war going to come just yet in my judgment, but I may be wrong. I thought so in 1914. I thought it was inconceivable, and I may be wrong now, but even with all my optimistic temperament I tell you there is only just time to stop it—just time. "Who can do so? Honestly, I do not see anybody who can do it except the Christian Churches. Everybody else seems to me to be working for more arms. And do not forget this—that even statesmen, and great statesmen, are amenable to pressure, and the pressure now is all for the increasing of arms.' "From my experience, I cannot recall a Government in any country that wanted war. Even the German Government, as a Government, did not want war. But what happened? And you must remember it. "The Christian Churches and statesmen between them must share the responsibility. I think it was a failure of both in 1914. Statesmen functioned badly, and the! Christian churches did not function at aIL Why? It came so suddenly and there was no time to move. There was no time then, but there is time now. "It is time that organised Christianity should make an impression on the statesmanship of the world. Aa

effort has been made, but there is a lack of unity amongst the churches. There was an effort a short time ago. What happened? It was broken because of the factious and futile character of the efforts, or rather lack of efforts, of some of the churches. "The greatest church in Christendom—and I think it ought to be said—was too arrogant to work with Christians who worshipped at other altars, even in the service of the Prince of Peace. And you had national, sectarian, and—most despicable of all—personal rivalries and jealousies which wrecked every effort. "It is time they should act together. Act promptly in the name of God and humanity. I hope they will. And will do it soon. If the churches fail, I don't know what is going to happen." Dr. Norwood said that as long as he lived no passion would move him more than the passion to work to prevent that stupidity of war." If Europe goes to war again," he said, "she will commit suicide, and there will be a new cycle, of history which will find its star'ng point in the east. While Europe committed sucide the east would wait and then would claim its own right to carve out history."