BATTLE FOR PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 5

BATTLE FOR PEACE

AIR. LLOYD GEORGE’S APPEAL TO CHURCHES. NATIONS PREPARING FOR AVAIL PREMIER’S WARNING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. August, 4. At a luncheon given in his honour last work, Mr Lloyd George delivered an urn portant speech on the subject of “Peace. Sir Murray Hyslnp. -speaking for the 58J Free Churchmen who were, present, said that however divergent their views might ho regarding David Lloyd George, the statesman, there could only he one view regarding David Lloyd George, the I 1 ree Churchman. They all appreciated that Ins kinship was with the Free Churches and that his whole religious faith was deeply rooted in Iheir traditions. It stood _to the Prime .Minister’s credit, that he consistently had “sought ponce and ensued it. ’ and it was largely owing fo his untiring onoils that the raging waters were becoming more Iramruil and the storm clouds beginning to show rifts of light. . “I am here,” said the Prime Mims er, “as a Nonconformist, speaking to my fellow Nonconformists on matters of concern lo us all. matters which will survive Governments and probably outlast parties and combinations of parties. There are issues of great, moment which are confronting you. which are gathering strength.” He then went on to speak of the dangers of the times “They are dangers which may be summed up in the war. its lessons, and its consequences. There is first of all a great reaction, temporary perhaps, but. considerable, against the sacrificial temper manifested during the war, a return to ’a more material spirit and attitude of mind. It was inevitable that (he time of war was lime of giving up luxuries, comforts, privileges, rights, properly, health, life, and friends, brothers, relations. It was a tjme of giving. The reaction is inevitable. Human nature has not enough petrol to i-opp jt, n-i in (he blue skv above fhe clouds for more than a certain period, and it comes down to earth, and it has come down, with a bump; and it is only religion that can refill the lank. There was a desire to got away from the surrenders and sacrifices of war. Lot, us cat, drink, and be merry,’ for we have just emerged from the vallev of death. That is the new temper, and it is ono of the dangers cf the moment that the churches alone can cope wuth. That, is why their vigilance is essential in that direction. QUESTION OF TEMPERANCE. “I should like to say one word about the question of temperance in this relation. There are two favourable facts. The first is that, high taxation has made excessive drinking more inaccessible. The second is that, undoubtedly during the last- year or two there has been more drastic legislation ou the question of drink than has boon carried through the Houses of Parliament during the previous fifty years. We are indebted very largely for the successful carrying of that Bill by consent to a very distinguished Free Churchman, tho Lord Chief justice of England. There is also tho fact that the struggle for existence, has been intensified considerably by the burden? and the consequences of the war. The struggle aijd the scramble tor dally broad, profits wiped out, wages reduced, tho difficulty of securing employment—all that had introduced rather a different temper from that which prevailed largely during tho war. It is difficult to preach high purposes to men whoso nostrils can with difficulty bo kept above the waves. TERRIBLE ■ MACHINES. “But I mainly wanted to talk about the urgent, need for all the churches to combine. to make war impossible. 1 have had to make a close study of peace—of ils prospects, of its perils—perils not of peace but the perils lo peace. The earth is strewn with these perils, some manifest, some open, some revealed, niany hidden. During tho war tho cry was, ‘Never again.’ There is a growing assumption that the conflict is coming again sooner or later. That is the'business of the churches. Nn--lions ate building up armaments. Nations that, have been submerged, buried, are building up now armaments. You have national animosities, national fears, sus-' pinions, dislike, ambition fostered and exaggerated. You have more than that. Keep your eye on what is happening. They are constructing mere terrible machines than even the late war ever saw. What, for? Not for peace. What are they for? ’They lire not even to disperse arpiiea. They are to attack cities unarmed, where you have defenceless populations to kill, to maim, to poison, to mutilate, to burn helpless women and children. WAR ON CIVILISATION. “If tho Churches of Christ throughout Europe and America allow that lo fructify they bad. better close -theif doors. The next war, if it ever comes, will ho a war on civilisation itself. We have reduced our armaments-—Army, Navy, and Air. We have reduced them beyond what they were before the war, and if all nations on earth did the same there would be no peril to peace. But- it. is difficult for ono nation to remain defenceless when others construct machinery which may bo used for its destruction. Everything depends on the temper, the spirit, which is created throughout the world, and it would be a sad thing, a, sad day, if the people of the world came to the conclusion that Christianity, in spite of all ils principles, in spite of all its ideals, was perfectly impotent to prevent mischief of that kind. LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

“I am one of those who attach high hopes to tho League of Nations. It is an esxmtial part of the machinery of civilisation. If it succeeds civilisation is safe. If it fails, civilisation is doomed. You have at 1 this moment tho strongest passions in tho hninan heart fear, revenge, hatred, lovo of kill, ranging themselves on the side of war. That, is the peril of the future — the fear that something will happen to your country, the fear of tho destruction of your homes, of your kindred —they say wo must prepare for war to protect them—• all those deep, dominant passions of the human heart, gradually enlisting on the side of war. That is where the Churches come in. And if the fury 'grow, (lie crash will inevitably come. Put not your trust exclusively in ■machinery. Tho Covenants are good, the Articles are excellent, but tho value of the machinery is in the motive power. Without, that, it is simply an ingenious iron puzzle. You must have in your League of Nations the '■ public opinion which can alone make is a force, which can alone give force to any human organisation—and that is your business. ‘The letter killetli, but (he spirit givuth life,’wind although tho letter of the Covenant is admirable, although (ho letter of the Articles is without a mistake, if you trust to the letter the killing will begin again. You must trust to the spirit which will give tho letter life. The League of Nations is a Magna Carta, hut it has no force unless the people of the nations are behind it to entorce it and to make it. impossible for anyone to resist its decree. The churches must do (hat.—(Cheers.) REVEAL the ihdeousnhss of WAR. “There is a new generation arising. It is a generation that has not passed through the horrors ol war. You are beginning to got into (hat generation, and each year you will got more and more into it. They read of the glories of war. They do not know of its horrors. That, is the generation that will decide. Clear the war of its glamour; reveal its hideonsness to the eyes of tho now generation. Let them know about the troubles that followed (he war. These are always forgotten. . Russia, no way out of the pit, ami sinking deeper into it with every convulsive effort. Germany, clinging desperately to the rotten branch of debased currency, and when that gives way Cod help Cermany. That is forgotten. It is the business of the Church of Christ to keep that before the, '■ye of tho people. “ You cannot make a League of Nations work unless you give support to it. It is no use sending my friend Mr Fisher there, or Lord Balfour, able men, distinguished men, men with voices listened to in the councils of Europe—unless there is an opinion everywhere behind them to give hoed to their appeals. The machine will fail. It will he futile. It will he a sham. 1 have had some experience of war. What I saw, of it tilled mo with horror. What I saw of it- day by day makes mo vow that I will consecrate what is left of my energies to make it impossible that humanity shall In future have to pass through tho lire, the torment, tho cruelty, the horror, and tho squalor of war.”