"Blessed are the Peacemakers."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

"Blessed are the Peacemakers."

Far up on a pinnacle of the great mountain range between Chile and Argentina, swept by winter storms and snow, stands one of tho most wonderful statues in the world —" The Christ of tho Andes." Tho story of this remarkable statue records one" of the greatest victories ever won by the peacemakers of tho world against the forces of bitter national enmity and greed, a story that every boy and girl in the world should know. i Many years ago a dispute arose between the people of Argentina and Chile as to the exact location of the boundary line between the two countries. So steep were the mountains, so snow-clad and iocky, that it was extremely difficult to tell just where the boundary should be, and national feeling roso to such a pitch that war betwoen the two countries seemed inevitable. But there wcro two men, who, in the midst of all the enmity and strife, realised that such a terrible disaster could not be permitted. Those were tho good Bishop Benavente, of Argentina, and Bishop Java, of Chile, who went among their people, each on his own side of tho Andes, pleading for peace, showing how sinful and terrible a thing it would bo for the two nations to go to war when they might easily settle the question without bloodshed. Their wise counsels prevailed, tho rising tide 01 battle-lust was checked, and the two countries decided to ask the King Edward of England to be their judge, and docido where the boundary should stand. Like a wise judge, he gave each a part of tho country in dispute, and there was great rejoicing when the peace treaty was made. \ . As a thank-offering and everlasting memorial of this triumph of the peacemakers, the pcoplo •of tho two countries subscribed a large sum of money to nay for a great statue, made from bronze cannon, melted down, and moulded into a figuro of Christ, the Peacemaker. This wonderful figure stood more than 25ft high, the base being over 40ft. in height. Permission was granted for the statue- to bo .placed on the highest accessible pinnacle of the Andes, on one of the disputed boundary lines, but so large and heavy was the statuo that this was a very difficult matter. The statue was carried by rail to tho baso of the mountains, then placed on gun carriages, drawn by mules, where the track was too rough and steep even for the mules the people took the ropes, and finally the statue was hauled into position. There was great rejoicing on tho day when the statue was to be unveiled. Hundreds of people toiled up tho mountain tho ™Kht he ore, the Argentines camping on the Chilean side of the boundary, and the Chileans on the Argentine side, to show their -friendship and goodwill. When the statue was a last ready for unveiling, a great burst of music and firing of guns echoed over the rnountains and through the valleys below. In breathless silence evayone waited while the cover was taken off, the beautiful face of Christ looked down npon them, seeming to say. as ot old: '; Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of G0(1 With one hand outstretched to bless the two countries, and the holdimr aloft a cross the statue stands to-day, strong, immovable as the moun memorial upon which thepeople »f Arg.nt.n. .ndtt.l. will look for ages to come with reverence and - ;„o word.th/will ever remind them how lesson of peace, carved in granite at the baso of the statue. Sooner .hall ihe.e monoid" cn.mMe to ** f°» The Chilean, break Ihe peace whteh, at the feet o/ C1.n.l Redeemer, they have sworn to maintain.