BELGIAN CHURCHES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 2

BELGIAN CHURCHES

Pastors At Their Posts

A picture of the life of the churches In Belgium today is given in a letter from a Belgian pastor published m “Outlook,” the Presbyterian paper: "YVo are living on and patiently waiting for the end of the storm that has descended on our country,” the pastor wrote. “All our pastors, with few exceptions, are at their posts and caring for their congregations, which are reconstituting themselves after the great, disordered evacuation and the mobilization of youth. All the members of my little church have come back, except for three soldiers who have been made prisoners of war, and one soldier and one civilian who have been killed. For a congregation of about 200 adults, ihese losses are relatively slight, though they are not slight for those have to bear the sail weight of them. "We are suffering from an immense isolation; we read no newspapers, and receive few letters from outside. Nothing comes which could really uplift and encourage us. No holidays for us. after a year which has held so many 1 shocks and been troubled by such varied emotions. Life is rather calm here just now. though it is materially difficult. The restrictions are making themselves felt more and more. "I think of the great task that awaits us after the return of peace. How many wounds there will be to I heal, how many hatreds to stifle, how ! many rancours to consume, how much brotherly love to inspire in people! I | do not despair, however, of managing to do all this, in a spirit of dignity and i respect for the legitimate griefs of I everybody. I “The effort, of our Belgian Federa- , tion of Protestant Churches has been I directed toward a restoration of conscience. May God help us to make I loyalty flourish in all our human rebitionshlps, whatever they may be.”