Storyteller.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 305, 18 November 1920, Page 10

Storyteller.

THE LAST WEAPON.

A VISION

CHAPTERT

“They crucify to themselves the* Son of (»o<l afresh, and put Him to an open shame." And behold, within the centremost court of Heaven all music had ceased, and the multitudes waited with bowed heads, under a silence deep with agony, for this was the hour when the prayers of men ascended to the Throne, and none dared to lift his eyes to tne face of the- Christ (Jod, seated at the right hand of the Majesty of (ilory. But the Child, with eyes aflame, with purest Love, passed through the* throng, and none heard the* sound of His naked feet, nor felt the touch of His soft raiment as He went. And the Child kneeled before the Christ God, and gazed up into His face. And suddenly a great passion of adoring sympathy broke forth upon the Child, for he saw that the* scars upon the forehead of the Christ God burned with agony, and that the wounds upon His hands and His feet were reopened blood-red. Yet in His eyes he saw neither doubt nor fear, but only the uttermost assurance of triumph; and as he bent low to kiss the wounded feet, the Christ God raised him to His side, and folded him within His arm. "What would'st thou, my child?” “1 would know, O Christ God, why the scars on Thy forehead burn with agony, and why the wounds upon Thy bands and Thy feet are blood-red." “Thou seest My wounds blood-red, because \tv children who profess My Name have woven a thick veil of untruth Iretween the* peoples and Myself. Thus am I wounded in the house of My friends." “Then, is there naught I can do to serve Tir e?" pleaded the Child “Art thou willing to bo.ir sorrow for My sake, as thou did’st once before?" nnd Christ God smiled Ihe smile of Heaven. ‘The i knowest. O <’brist Ged, that wh« rever Thou would’st send mo there will 1 go!" Yet the child trembled within the arm that enfolded him. And the silence was deep in the Hen vens for the; space of an hour, and the Child waited in uttermost patience.

"O, Christ God!" he pleaded at last, “that I might bring healing to Thy wounds!" "It is through the wounding of Love that Love will prevail!" answered the Christ God. “I cannot understand," faltered the Child. “Neither do My children upon earth understand! Kneel and thou shalt hear.” And the Christ God touched the ears of tlu* Child as he bent low to listen. CHAPTER 11. "When ye spread forth your hands, 1 will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, ! will not hear; your hands are full of blood. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye iefu.se and rebel, ye shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord bath spoken it." “Victory! Victory! O God of righteous, ness and honour!" The words thunder ed into the Child’s ear, as though from a •million throats. "Confound our enemies! Strengthen our right arm, O God of Battles, that when we uplift Thy glittering sword, we may bring our enemies to the dust, that Thou mayest icign in righteousness amongst the nations!" "For King! For Country! For Fatherland! For Home! For Wife! For Child! O God, hear from Thy dwelling place!" "God! Help me to strike! Help me* to blow them limb from limb —the devils. O God, have merc y upon u i all!" “God Almighty!" Come on. you seed of the devil! Come on. you hell hound*}! A million of you—we are ready. Now. in the name of Christ." “Merciful Saviour! Hast Thou not one drop of water, before —" “Gracious Father, we humbly pray that Thou wilt give Thy holy angels charge to succour and defend our tailors, our soldiers, our airmen, in all their dangers and temptations.” "O God! Give me strength to get this poor chap out of this!" "Almighty Father! Thou Who alone doest perfect righteousness, we thank Thee for the blessed assurance that victor> is certain for our nation, for Thy great glory’s sake. Bless our guns, our shells, our bombs, our ships, our mines, and all and every means by which our rulers determine to over-

throw the enemy. In the name of •Jesus Christ we ask it. Amen!" “Christ! O Mother of Christ! Save! Save! She is my mother —my sister! O Jesu, the children! They come! They are here! Ah! damn you' Curse you! Beast! Brute! If “O Holy Father. Thou alone knowest the* wickedness of our enemies, pour out upon them that punishment which is their due, and mercifully continue# Thy favours to us, Thy c hildren, warring for Thy truth. In tin* name* of our Crucified Saviour." "O Holy Father! Endue these Thy noble sons, about to go forth to lay down their lives for Thy sake, with power from on high. (Jive them courage and skill to overcome their foes, and lead them not info temptation, hut deliver them from evil. Amen!" “O Mighty God! We thank Thee that Thou hast delivered unto us the secret of true greatness. We thank Thee that we are nor as others -e ven as this enemy! Are not our hands clean in this great conflict, and our ways honourable? Stand by us in the hour of need, that through our victory we may lead the world rnro Thy truth." “O Holy Father! We are assured that we are Thy chosen people, brought forth by Heaven’s command to dominate tin* earth and the seas. Let not other nations fulfil their foul designs against us. Curse them in their madness. and bring them to a wise submission to Thy holy will.” "() God of Battles! Deliver us, we beseech Thee, from the dangers descending upon us, through those who would cry ‘Peace’ when there is no peace. Confound their- !>ase endeavours, and let them not strengthen thehands of our enemies, nor lay Thy honour in the dust!" Then tho Child lifted up Iris eyes lieseechingly, as though he would hear no more. "Yet listen once again, my Child! There are other voices." And a woman’s cry rang upwards to tlu* throne*. "Forgive us, as we forgive! O Christ! Teach -me what this means! They have killed my boy my only son. O (Jod. dost Thou know that I cannot bear it? Avenge me on their noblest. No! No! Merciful Father, forgive! Make not another woman’s heart desolate as miner*

“O God! Light! Give light! Must I kill? I cannot kill! Is there no other way? They tell mo in Thy church that Thy righteousness can only reign on earth through trampling the Christ we once knew under foot! Is then* some new Christ? Light! O God!” “Gentle Jesus, stop this war. It is wicked. Everybody knows it is wicked. You, Gentle Jesus, must hate it so. Won’t you please stop it before my Gaddy has to kill anybody—please!” “God! Is it true that Faith and Hope and Love are vanquished, and that Fear rules the world? Send us a sign that Thou art still in the Heavens!” “Thou art still on the Throne, O Christ God!” whispered the Child. “1 am eternally on the Throne!" "What. then, is this Fear that rules mankind, O Christ God?" “Would’st thou dare to enter the Halls of Fear for My sake?” The Child's fac e shone with pure joy, as he answered: “If that would serve* Thee, O King!” “He that serveth My brothers and sisters, serveth Mo!” “That is enough, O King of Truth!” and the Child kissed the pierced foot.” “And thou fearost not the Fear?” “What is this Fear?" faltered the Child. “Thou shait learn.” and the Christ God drew a circle round the Child’s head with His finger. "Now thou art crowned with Love, for Perfect Love has all power to cast out Fear. Co thy way, and learn the meaning of ‘The Last Weapon’ offered to men by the Prince of Fear and ‘The Ijist Weapon’ offered hy the Saviour of •he World.” (To be Continued.)