The Dominion. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1918. THE MORAL ASPECTS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 312, 21 September 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1918. THE MORAL ASPECTS OF THE WAR

1 The'visit of the Bishop of Ox-.' ford (De. Goke) to the United States,, as announced ' in a recent cable message, is in accordance with the desire of Puesidest Wilson that an organised effort should be made to keep the moral aims and aspects of the war steadily before the American'people. The President firmly .believes in.the importance o{ mobil- ' ising the spiritual forces of the nation,, a)id at his suggestion a National Committee was set up for this- purpose. Ex-Pbesident Taft is one. of' the most prominent members of the committee, which has planned, a, campaign with, the object of impressing; upon all sections'of the people the fact that "in this gr.eat struggle • the Allies arc fighting for the, great ethical principles ' which s,form the _ foundations of Christian civilisation. Noticing ago 'Sik George Adam Smith, the distinguished; Principal of Aberdeen University, made a highly successful toiir of the country. He had an enthusiastic reception wherever he went. He is-just the man for such' ft' mission. He is ono of the most impressive personalities «of Scot-tish-Presbyterianism—a scholar of world-wide fame; whose- books on Biblical.' criticism:'and: the h'istor'i-' cal geography of the Holy -Land stahclard v w r brks in all English-speaking .countries. ./Ever, since the beginning of the .war he has, In.the pulpit and'..on. the platform, done liis•.utmost .'to make people realise the; tremendous issuesat stake and their moral obligation ■ ■to bring the struggle! to a good end." This grand old man won tho hearts of the, Americans, and his itinerary was-a wonderfully interesting one..In describing his experiences ho States that the 'Americans! are enthusiastically with us.and are fully appreciative of the sacrifice's of Britain and France to a cause -which, is as much theirs. as ours. He heard Mr. Taft declare . that. ■ America could never repay her.debt to Britain. . Professor Caldwell, of the Union ;.' Theological. Seminary at Richmond,'-.gives a deeply moving' account of S.ir : George's address at •Third- Church, New Orleans, on the theme! of.. "The Urgent '. Cloud /f .'Witnesses." -The preacher .picturedtha scene ".until one-could .'almost--see.iti and; drawing attention.- to the many thousands of- new' faces, ■ mostly of young-.-men, lately added to that cloud, all watching to see-what': we will do in the present mighty 'struggle for ; right and a true peace. As two-of his own .'three sons have .baptised .foreign', soil their b3o.od..'.and--iaye joined, the ;witnesses aboye;..'.there.was v a:.'pathos beyond expression in :Dr; Sjutb's.'.:words'. •AH . who heard it.. pronounced the •discburse one of-the most effective they had ever heard.- At times one could _almost feel the wave of emotion and: intense interest-- that spread over, the great - audience- to whosehearts the: man was talking."-' .-■ The visit" of a- man of such high intellectual standing, and moral enthusiasm . as Sir George Adam Smith must, have had a stimulating effect-on the- American public, Those in the best position to form a sound judgment 'tell us that 'Such revealings. of the spirit of Britain to the spirit of. America have not . only helped to steady and strengthen tha American nations war spirit; but have 'also forcibly, reminded tho people of .the many ties which bind ■ Britain and America together. The two nations have inherited'.similar moral arid 'spiritual ideals, similar legal and-political institutions', tho same- language- and literature: The: .Archbishop -.'of--York (Br. Cosmo Ung),. like 'Sir .George/-Adam . Smith, 'was impressed by .'the greatwave of enthusiasm .flowing through the United-States.' Hei too, found the people most eager to show their gratitude to. Britain. The Archbishop's tour lasted 40. days, and during that ti'nie he delivered .85. speeches'-to over : 100;000 people. Ho experienced a new sehsbi of • followl- - and felt himself carried 1 , along; by a.-strong spontaneous -feeling of; good ■ will;' Everywhere '.he found the same quick assent to the appeal to forget old quarrels which once divided us, and to remember only tho tics of- common traditions, ideals, and. purposes which unite iis. The same immediate applause always greeted such a plea as this: .'.'You had to' take your liberty. Perhaps wo ought to have given it to. you. But after-all it'was.our old liberty that. you : : took.\ We must, now stand side by side to -win and keep that, liberty /yours and ours, for tho whole world." Referring to the Archbishop's tour, Lord 33r\'ce remarked that nothing could be better than to • make known- our spirit in the United .States and to bring'back, the assurance that, it is understood" by the American people. The war brings gains as well' as losses, and one of its greatest gains is the full reconciliation of the two branches of■ the Anglo-Saxon family after their long estrangement. The Bishop of Oxford, who is now the guest of the Americans,- is sure of a, hearty welcome. Ho is well known in the United States through his books and as a leader of thought in the Anglican Church. He has been insistently calling upon the Church to put its own house in order so that it may' be able to maEo full use of the splendid opportunity that presents itself of shaping the character of the new world which is now being created.. He has just written a striking pamphlet entitled The League of Nations the Opportunity; of the Church, and it may be taken for granted that he will have a good deal to say on this nucstion during his American tour. He realises that a, divided Church can never unite tho world. He therefore urges that all Christian bodies should join together in order to provide an authoritative religious, sanction' for the League of Nations. Dr. Gore says there is a widespread consciousness that there is.no.hop.e for our civilisation unless we can .build again our international life upon a new basis, the basis of the brotherhood of nations, 'that basis .of' which MazkiniJ . the' ..great.'-.patriot,. is also ...the great'' , prophet. Dr, Gore-is in America

as the advocate of the larger patriotism which permits one to strive for the well-'bcing of the whole human, family without any disloyalty to one's own kin and country, which requires us to value our nation, as an instrument for ends that are wider, than itself, and which calls upon every nation "to make the most of i,tself and its resources in order that-it may better minister to the needs of all mankind an»l maintain,the universal and impartial interests of justice, freedom, and peace." The world is crying out for a fellowship of nations, and Dit. Gork contends that it is the true function of a Catholic Church to''make all its members recognise their fellowship one with another as; a bond closer and more exacting even thanY.the ties of kindred and blood, and so pave the way for &'■ universal', human fellowship. Such a message will certainly receive an attentive hearing in the United States, at the present time, for Pkk•sidbkt Wilson and his. countrymen have expressed a determination to do-all in their power to make this war the last war, to place freedom and democracy on unshakable foundations, and to' create a League of Peace strong'enough to. establish and maintain .the reign of law throughout the'world. .' . .