"ON EARTH, PEACE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13454, 3 June 1907, Page 6

"ON EARTH, PEACE."

CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY.

Following is a copy of a circular addressed by the Wellington branch of the International Arbitration and Peace Association to the clergy of the different churches in Wellington and the South: •

I ', ; '■ IN TERRA PAX. '. To the clergy of the Christian Church in

the name of Christ the Peace-maker. Greeting At a public meeting, held at the Town Hall, Wellington, under the auspices of the Wellington branch of the International .Arbitration and .." Peace Association, on April 16, 1907, the following resolution, was carried unanimously:—"That the honorary secretary be instructed to write to the clergy of the various churches requesting them to make reference to the meeting of the International Delegates at The Hague, at their services on the Sunday following June 1, 1907, the date of the opening of : the Second Peace Conference."

It affords me very great pleasure, to comply with these instructions, confident the request will meet a ready response on the part of those pledged to promulgate the doctrines of the Prince '.'of Peace. The objective of the Conference should meet with the strong approval of all who desire tho welfare of humanity, of the Christian Church especially. Some may object that the question of substitution of arbitration for war does not come within the scope of the Church's activity. Everything is the concern of the Church, if she rightly understand, and determine to fulfil, her Divine mission. Broad as the need of humanity, so broad is the Church's rightful sphere of action. Life is not divided into a number of water-tight compartments, into some of which religion may not enter. On the contrary, everything in life is correlative, and religion, and the Church as its expounder, bears, or .- should bear, a relationship to every aspect of it. The Conference is the visible expression of the fruition of a' noble ideal. It • . is. the result of years of patient toil on the part of those who believed passionately in the ultimate triumph of good over all the powers- of evil. These men possessed the . priceless Jewel of Faith, without which nothing , great can be accomplished. And now their faith is justified. a thousandfold, their labour of love crowned with a glorious success. --

The Christian Church prays for the coming of Christ's kingdom, thai His will be done on earth. The Conference is a real attempt to make this devoutly-longed-for, prayed-for, hoped-for, consummation ' possible. When the Tsar launched his memorable rescript, inviting the nations to a parliament of peace, it marked the beginning of the end of tl-e reign of Mars, and°signalised the commencement of that of ! ' Eros. '■'''•'■ '

On behalf .of the International Arbitration and Peace Association,

(Signed), W. A. Lloyd, Honorary Secretory, Wellington Branch.