WAR'S MEANING

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 10

WAR'S MEANING

In his lecture on ' War—lts Meaning and Message to Mankind,' at the Theosophical Rooms last evening, Mr 6.. Hodsou said that the years since 1914 have been cataclysmic. The danger of a third world war was recognised by all intelligent people. A world charter had been drawn up to prevent this, yet whilst the principles of justice and international law were recognised in the new world charter, the steps taken to prevent war depended almost entirely upon the use of force by nations who had come to.fear and distrust force. Humanity still depended upon force. This was a most dangerous situation for two reasons. First, the method chosen, by itself, would not be effective. The nations know this, conscription was being considered, and armies, navies, and air forces were being maintained at great strength. Second, the dependence upon force and balance of power indicated that the true lesson of *'ar was not yet even perceived, to say nothing of being learnt and acknowledged. The second world war has provided man with a transcendent object lesson. That lesson was: " God is not mocked; that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Mr Hodson then examined the history and present experience of many nations, showing in all of them the operation of an inviolable law of cause and effect. Under this law cruelty inevitably brings suffering, whilst humaneness brings happiness, health, and prosperity. This was the supreme lesson of the two world wars and the unfailing guide for the future. '