BACK TO FAITH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2751, 20 April 1916, Page 8

BACK TO FAITH

RELIGIOUS REVIVAL IN FRANCE A STRIKING CONFESSION The following cxtrnct from an English paper sent to mm by a layman was road by the Rev. A. M. Johnson in the course of his sermon at St. Paul's pro-Cathedral on Sunday morning;— The celebrated French writer, Larridan, whose pen formerly had nothing but biting sarcasm and scorn for every religious faith, now urges, in a public confession, his nation to return to the faith as the only saving ground for their souls. All the papers in France, even the most radical, have respectfully prints ed it. It beare the signs of tho times, and runs as follows in free translation: "I laughed at faith, and considered myself wise. I no longer retain xny gaiety over this derision ae I see France Bleeding and weeping. I stood by the roadside and saw tne soldiers. They went on so joyfully to meet death. It made me ask the question, 'What is making you so caira?' And they began to pray. They said, 'We believe in God.' I counted our nation's sacrifices, and saw how the people praying could carry them. Then I felt within me that it was something consoling to know an eternal homeland which shines with love while the earth is glowing with hatred. This knowledge is the knowledge of a little, child, and I am no longer a child; that is my poverty, a,nd that causes me to shiver. A nation must despair if it : does not believe that the pain of earth can be exchanged for the joy of Heav-311. "To hope when everything is sinking, who can do that without faith? I stand by the streams of blood on French soil and I see the rivers of tears. 1 doubt. But the old woman from Brittannv, whose sons have bled to death, she prays. ■ How ashamed X am before this woman!

"How terrible and burning are the wounds of I a people-where there is not one drop of this wonderful One's Blood! This wonderful—Oh! I dare not name His Name! He who was so good I And I—What will becomo of France, of her children, if they do not believe P I.l' its women do not pray? ''That nation will conquer in this war which has confidence in God as its foremost weapon "France was great in bygone days, but it was a France mixed with faith. How is it with France at this moment? It is in pressure and . difficulties. It knows a France which' no longer can believe. Shall its future be better? By God's good hand, yes, only through God's good hand.

"Behold a nation of dead covers the fields! How difficult to' remain an atheist on this vast national cemetery! I cannot. I .have betrayed myself and you—you who' have read my books and sung my eongs. It was a most raving and most terrible dream!

"I see death, and I cry for life. Prance! France!! turn to faith, to your beautiful days. To give up God is to be for ever lost. I know not if I be alive to-morrow, but this I must tell ni> friends; Larridan' dare not die an atheist. Hell does not trouble me, but this thought troubles me: A God lives, aud I_ stand far from Him! My soul shall joy mightily if I ever'experience, that moment when I, kneeling, can say, I believe,! I believe in God, I'believe. These words are the vespers'of humanity,' 1 but for those. who know them .'lot it is night."