THE RELIGIOUS WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 12

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. CHURCHES' APPEAL TO ALL CHRISTIANS. "SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY." The following appeal -was published in accordance with tlio' request of tlio conference held at Lambeth on October 29, under the presidency of tho Archbishop of Canterbury. It will ba noticed that tho signatories represent all tho moat important Churches in tho United Kingdom, except the Roman Catholic Church. In a letter to tho Archbishop of Canterbury, Sublished in ' The Times ' of October 31, ardinal Bourn© explained that the question was one rather for international statesmen, but if a workable scheme could bo devised it would have tho support of Roman Catholics throughout the world : We desire to appeal to our fellowChristians of all communions to unite with us in supporting tho ideal of a League of Nations as an essentially Christian means of attaining international justice and peace. We regard a League of Nations—m .the sense of a substantial and organised 00-operation of all nations sincerely interested in tho object of securing tho peace of the world, the abolition of war, and the guarantee- of freedom to tho weaker, States and races—as beting now accepted by the consent both of leaders and of public opinion. Wo recognise this as an advance politically in the 'highest and noblest sense of the ward. Acootfdingly we look with confidence to states-men such as our" own political leaders of different types, and the President of the United States, whoso common endorsement of the proposal ha* brought it to the forefront of future policy, to work it into practical form, both as part of tho conung peace and after the peace. We do not underrate the difficulties and the intricacies of the taskj it will demand tho fullest political skill that statesmen can supply. But wo are equally euro that this is a movement far too largo, deep, and significant to bo loft only to experts. Tito demand for it comes from the heart and conscience of the peoples; and tho force of the public conscience and will iu the nations is the 'indispensable condition, the measure of its fiuc- : cess and its permanence. We know also, and too well, how far a general acceptance of tho project _in name and in vague shape is from anything approaching- realisation. It is a commonplace of politics that .agreed measures are sometimes the hardest to pos-s. There is a long road to travel,, and there are raany enemies. To say this is only superficially inconsistent with, what has just been said about agreement. No one who haa given any thought to tho history and conditions of "true progress will doubt that real advances fund elevations of standard are never secured without an arduous t-truggle against counter 'orces to which tho weaknesses and selfishnesses and tiasen-esses of human nature always contribute. The principles of good are powerfully resisted by principles or forces of evil of winch wo only imperfectly descry, at any time, the nature and tho workings. j Such considerations in our judgment point imperiously to tho conehis-ion. that t a responsibility of tho most serious .and las-ting kind rests upon all who form and influence opinion to watch, and snppcrt, and; strengthen this great and (<ar-reach.'ng design, lhat obligation rests upo:i «il men and women of good, will, And without such general comradeship the object will hardly bo attained. Opinion must apply tho "steam," the perseverance, the \-igiianco which will be needed for success. But as Ghr'stdans, and speaking to those who share with us that- great allegiance, we recognise a, special Christian responsibility in this matter of a League of Nations, not as against others, but for tho common good. For though wo belioro that, in the world aa we have known it hitherto, war for defence cr for principle may be an- inevitable duty, and have, accordingly supported with profound conviction the struggle of tho Allies against Ckxmany and what Germany has represented, wo know 'that tho purpose of (Jod, as our Lord haa made us to know .TTim, ia a purpose of peace, to make war to cease in all tho world. We know it as fundamental and comprehensive Christian truth that love is tho only true constructive principle of common human hfe, and that lovo acts by subjecting all tho forms of selfishness, eelf-aggrandiscmeut, and sensitivo prido, in nations as in individuals, to tie strong and wholesome control of duty towards the general interest, and of common loyalty to tho Kingdom of God. Caro for tho weak and tho backward, jealousy far tho freedom and growth of ] all peoples, self-control by tho nations at timed of exasperation and strain, are in ! our eyes part of the working of this great and royal law, against winch, of course, all forms of human fault, folly, and weakness constantly contend. Therefore it is that wo must both welcome, from whatever source they come, forces making tor these great ends, and also try as Christiana to mako our own Christian contribution to the cause. Wo behove, indeed, that it is mainly where tho Kingdom of Heaven iu Christ works either as leaven in the mass, or by direct power of its divine law, tliat there is any such real strength as can prevail in difiicult movements of this kind. To these considerations there remains to be added that the Church is entrusted with spiritual ' weapons in whoso efficacy its faith believes. ; By the prayer of faith and hope, earnest, humble, and constant, groat things are wrought; prayer both corporate of "christians in tho congregation, and individual prayer winch tho simple and childlike as well as tho skilled can offer. A conference of leaders of tho Christian Churches of Britain, convened by the Archbishop of Canterburv, was held at Lambeth on October 29,' 1918, "to consider from a religious point of view tho most effective mode in which the support of tho Christian Churches can be given to the project of a League of Nation* " With this end in view, tho conference nopointed a Standing Committee, and requested us to issue this message to the Christian people of tho United Kingdom to invito their co-operation in supporting tho project. ' * That we arc able to do this unitedly is for us a special happinosg, and an earnest of success. With tho prayer for God's blessing and guidance, we ' are, etc., Randall Cantuar (Archbishop of Canterbury), Cosmo Ebnr (Archbishop of York), J. E ; Roberts (president of the' Baptist ~ I '™ °J Groflfc Britain and Ireland), ii. C-rifhth Jones (chairman of tho ("Vwregational Union of England and WaKs) Alex. Ramsay (-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Englnnd), W. A. Hammond (president of the Primitive Methodist Church), J ' n^'f' 18 (president of the United Methodist Church), Hugh Barrow Williams (Moderator of th" Welsh Calvinistio Methodist Church), teamuel Chadwick (president of tho Wesleyan Methodist Church), George Hooper (president of tho National Council of Evangelical Free Churches. J. N. Ogilvie (Moderator of the Church of Scotland), W. J. F. Robbords (Bishop of Brechin, Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland). Robert J. Drummond (Moderator of the i United Free Church of Scot-land!, James M'Qranahnn (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Irelnad), Hugh M'Keag_ (Vice-president of the Conference, of the Methodist Church in Ireland). THE LORD'S PRAYI-TR. The Lord's Prayer i.--. a vtry intimate whispering of the soul .with <Jo ;. It is also, the perfect child's pia.ver, and tho tramp being much of a child, it i-; h:-f. Many people have their private mUrpvetations of the prayer, and 1 have !.<-.":T I preachers examine it clause l>v elau'-e. It i r-an mean many things. it mu:;t mean I different tiling "to people of different !iv<--«. | It is something very precious to the tr-imp. , The tramxj is the lonely one. Walking ; along all by himself all day by the side of the sounding waves he if -desolated bv loneliness, and when lie lie- down it <U s-k j all alone he feels the need of loving human friendo. But his friends are far away. '

j Ho becomes once mare a little ti'ustmf.' I child, one who, though he fears, looks up to the face of -a great strong Father. Ho feels himself encompassed about by dangers j perhaps eom-eorte him as lie Bmoothed out his bracken bed j or if ho went into a cave a robber wivv him, and will com© later in tho night, when he is fast asleep, murder him, and throw his body into the sea; or ho may have medo his bed in the path of tire hear cr 'n the haunt of tnakee. Many, many are the shapea of terror tlia-t assail the mind of tho wanderer. How good to be a little boy who can trust in a great strong Father to "deliver him from eviL" And each clause of tliat lovely prayer has its epecial reality. Thus " Give ne this day our daily bread." causes liim to think, not ao much of getting wages on the morrow as of tho kindly fruits of the earth that lio in the trees and bushes like anonymous gifts, and of the hospitality of rnan. Most beautiful of all to tho tramp is the wish ''Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will bo done on earth as it is in heaven." For it is thus understood : Thy Will be done in earth— l ir.m that earth. " l'hy Kingdom come" means Thy Kingdom como in n e—may >ny soul be like a paro- mirror before tho bounty of the world, may the beauty of tho world bo reflected' in mo tilil the whole beautiful world is my heart. Then sliaJl my heart be pure, and that which I see will ho Ood. Thy Will be done ;n Ale aa it is done in heaven. And tlio tramp asks himself as ho lies full longth on the earth and looks i.-patfbo stars: Ai'o you a yoa-sayer? Do you pay " Yes " to life? Do yoxx jo-ut fac>e in wonder to the beauty of the work!? Do you stand with bare foot in sj\cr&d place*,? Do you remember always the mystery and wonder that is in your fei-low-man whom you moot upon the road? . . . "Hallowed be Thy Name." Does tho wanderer lovo all things? It is a condition of all things loving him. Ho miwt have perfect poaco In his heart for the kingdom to be built there. . , . " Forgivo us our trespasses.'' We may be temptea to forget Thee, may fear danger "wtd our hearts be ruffled, may be tempted to forget that our fellow-man is one lil-3 ourselves, with our mystery and wonder, a.nd having 1 a very Living human heart cither apparent or prevented! We m.'vy be tempted to forget tho raystory of our own .soul*. The tramp prays to Ik> led not into sn-oh 'temptation. For, with the Father above him, is the power, tho kingdom, and the ffloa-y, for ever and ever. As I said, prayers are strong out of doors, made 'n. the presence of ,-J! the stars. One is compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses. There : : s calm all around and in one's own heart. The mysteriou'i beauty of the starry, .sky reflects it«'lf in the soul, and across its mirror Kails the pale moon. My own body become:; a oradlo in which the Jittlo Christ Child ftleews. There arc angels everywhere, tam i-r im'ivwv.a,l keeping, for tho stars are all looking jjointing to me. Becia'wa of the iiltle Child the shepherds near by hear h-eavoidy harmony. ;,nd jouinrying through tho nij'ht to the land oi .!ri"::ms mn» Ilie t'nrce wonderta! old kings v ith cifts. —From 'A Tramp's Skctches," hv S'teplien ("4r;ihnm.

KKTRIBUTJON OF ETEiINAL j JUSTICE. ; A solemn 'Te Deurn ' was ?un-g in V/est- | minster Cathedral on November 15 in celebration of the Patronal Feast of the King of the Belgians. Cardinal Bourne wbu I wore his scarlet Magna, presided, a-'Mt there was a very large congregation I Too Lv.i-iiina. preached 011 the. text : And 1 will remove'far off from you the northern euemy : and 1 will drive • him into a laud unpassai>le and deaert,

■ with hie face towards the east se-a and his hinder part towards the utmost sea j amd his sterach shall ascend and his stfttennoES shall go up, because he has done proudly. Fear not, O land j be gla-d and rejoice, for the Ixjrd hath done great things. Addressing himself principally to the Belgians, he said: With wliat dramatic unexpootedness, with what precision of retribution, has tho hand of the Eternal Justice been in these daya made manifest I Tho King of tho Belgians ascends once moi'o the throne of a united and inviolate kingdom, crow-nod anew by his people's contidence, gratitude, and fove. Ihe oppressor, who trampled under foot every law that binds nations in mutual trust and friendship, ia dethroned, nncrown-ed, en exiled and unweloomed wanderer on the earth, unable to call any plot of land his own. The G-earnan invasion, was a history of innumerable- nrurdora and nameless crimes. Belgium now stands forth as never before in the eves of the whole world, a united people, In the fullest sense a nation, compacted and welded together by tho very life-blood of her children, of her sons, and of her daughters too. Theso years c/i tragedy have get Belgium free from the /uvrul poison of modern German thought and principles. Bitter experience hns shown lis how widespread and dangerous those teachings have become. Had they not been revealed in their true light by their systematic application in the present war, every na/tion would have been radically affected by their malignant influence. Tho sermon _ was followed by a solemn benediction given .by . Mgr Dowachtev, Bishop Auxiliary to Cardinal Mercier.