POWER NOT OURSELVES

Evening Star, Issue 23727, 7 November 1940, Page 6

POWER NOT OURSELVES

SEEKING AND FINDING “The dominant thought of youth is tho bigness of the world, of age its smallness. As we grow older we escape from tlie tyranny of matter and recognise that the true centre of gravity is in tho mind,” says the lato_ Lord Tweedsnuiir (John Buchan), in his ‘ Autobiography.’ “ Also, we lose that sense of relativity, which is so useful in normal life, provided it does not sour into cynicism, and come more and more to acclaim absolute things—goodness, truth, beauty. “ From a wise American scholar I take this sentence; ‘ The tragedy of man is that lie has developed an intelligence eager to uncover mysteries, bat not strong enough to penetrate them. With minds but slightly evolved beyond those of onr animal relations, we are tortured with precocious desires, and pose questions which we are sometimes capable of asking but rarely are able to answer. With the recognition of our limitations comes a glimpse of tho majesty of the “ Power not ourselves ” Religion is born when wo accept the ultimate frustration of mere human effort, and at the same time realise the strength which comes from union with superhuman reality. “ To-day the quality of our religion is being put to the test. The conflict is not only between tho graces of civilisation and the rawness of barbarism. More is being challenged than the system of ethics which we believe to bo the basis of our laws and liberties. 1 am of Blake’s view; ‘Man must and will have some religion ; if he has not the religion of Jesus he will have the religion of Satan, and will erect a synagogue ot Satan.’ “ There have been high civilisations in the past which have not been Christian, but in the world as we know it 1 believe that civilisation must have a Christian basis, and must ultimately rest on the Christian Church. To-day the Faith is being attacked, and the attack is succeeding. “ Thirty yearse ago Europe was nominally a Christian Continent, it is no longer so. In Europe, as in the era before Constantine, Christianity is in a minority. What Gladstone wrote 70 years ago, in a moment of depression, has become a shattering truth: ‘ I am convinced that the welfare of mankind does not now depend on the State and the world of politics; the real battle is being fought in the world of thought, where a deadly attack is made with great tenacity of purpose and over a wide field upon the greatest treasure of mankind, the belief in God and the Gospel of Christ.’

“ The Christian in name has in recent years been growing cold in his devotion. Our achievement in perfecting life’s material apparatus has produced a mood of self-confidence and pride. Our peril has been indifference, and that is a grave peril, for rust will crumble a metal when hammer blows will only harden it. 1 believe—and this is my crowning optimism—that the challenge with which we are now faced may restore to us that manly humility which alone gives power. It may bring ns back to God. In that case our victory is assured. The Faith is an anvil which has worn out many hammers. “We are condemned to fumble in these times, for tile mist is too thick to see far down the road. But in all our uncertainty wo can have Cromwell’s hope. ‘Tobe a Seeker is to be of the best sect next to a Finder, and such an one shall every faithful, huinble Seeker be at the end.’ So as a tailpiece to this book, I would transcribe a sentence of Henry Adams: ‘After all, man knows mighty little, and may some day learn enough of his own ignorance to fall down and pray.’ Dogmatism gives place to questioning, and questioning to prayer.”