The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-07
ORIGIN OF PEACE SOCIETIES.
Principles md Purposes OF Their
Formation. .F
by DIR w. E. DARBY.

by DIR w. E. DARBY.
A Paper read at the Chicago Pence Con-
gress, 1887
Part Fourth.
I nave now given you, rs briefly ana
clearly as am able, using rather their
own words than my own, that l may
not misrepresent them, some account
of the origin. principles, and purposes
of the Peace Societies which ale re-
presented in this Congress.
They all work together, each III his
own order, banded in q. real brother
hood and moved by u common spirit,
each doing the task for which 1t Is
sp cially adapted, each wines sing fur
the truth it specially enIbodies. Union
of this kind is not only practicable,
but as You see in this Congress, actual.
Organic federation between elements
so diverse in their fundamental prin.. =
ciples, appears TO me, in the nature oi
things, Impossible.
Naturally, / incline to the Oldest
type. Convinced as um 10 the In
most core Of my nature, that the one
hope of the world is Jesus Christ, anu
that only in His laws and plecepls anu
spirit are TO be found the most prac'
ticable policy and the truest expedien,,
CIV, and, behind both policy ana
theory, the great force by which the
reform and regeneration Of Society
are to be accom- plished; conv.lreI a'
I am that all progress Is illusion-a
mirage, simmer Of glittering sand
which does not enshrine the min q
Of Christ, righteousness, Brotherhood,
union, and divine self-sacritice in lhe
heart of the world. and that His spirit
and laws are sufficient for all
purposes: cow inced as am Of
these, am bound in sober earnest to
look upon any attempt to accomplish
preat reforms without Him, as the
adoption of means which have their
necessary and effective force left out.
Still that does not prevent Lhy giving
both heart and band to any one who
will accept them in the worlds work,
and particularly In this work for
Peace.
I will not not offend his prejudices,
If I can possibly avoid it. ! will not
intrude my religious faith and my
LOYALTY to Jesus Christ upon him.
will keep these among the. hidden
sanctities and springs of life and action
in me. But in return, l will expect
from him, US The first principle OF free
and equal cooperation, that he Will not
ask me to surrender them, or even
hint my disloyalty to my Divine Mas
ter and tn my honest convictions: a.
the condition of our working together.
Then, as to the methods OF our pro-
paponda; will remind you that Ar
bitration Is not some self-acting system
of political mechanics, needing only
suitable and perfected and permanent
I machinery. 1t has to he adopted, 1t
has to be applied, and for this is nee
essary a favourable disposition. Ar
bitration is, after all, a mere method,
q mere instrument, mere means 10
an end: that end being-such an ad-
iustment of international differences
as will secure international Peace. 1t
Is mere instrument, say, and be-
hind the instrument there must be the
hand to use it, and behind the haRd
the Intelligent will, and, for moral
purposes, behind the will the favour
ing disposition.
Our work, therefore, Is to provide
principles, not policies, for Govern
ments, taking care, Of course, to show
the bearing Of principles upon policies.
The presentation of Iisht principles,
will, if 1t be judicious, appeal to the
reason and conscience of rulers, and
will be really effective even where IL
NAV seem To be unheeded. The at
tempt to furnish policies will surely be
resented ~ an interfei ence with the
prerogative of government, aud eX-
poss us to the charge OF arrogant med
dlesomeness.
Kings must be taught as though you
taught them not; and ministers and
people too. 80,
Moreover, to be statesman!ike, we
must be both logical anil thorough.
All statecraft Is defective which leaves
out of account the spiritual forces
which arc active in the community,
and the deepest instincts and senti-
ments of the people.
I hold with Whittier that the main
thing, aye, the necessary thing, IT,, to
give truth q voice. We may trust her
10 do the rest when che has gained
hearing, Magma ct veritas ct pr@valt.
bit: and If Truth cannot accomplish
what is necessary, there Is no other
effective way. If the judgment be not
satisfied. any attempt to carry our
poiut, and TO compel obedience TO our
personal will, il a return 10 the old re-
gime of coercion and tyranny, anu ~
likely to lead 10 the old brute methods
of war.
i Government is power, we were le-
minded by Judge Bomney last evening
in introducing the President OF the
Congress, but, he, added, the power OF
government is moral force. Ihe law
of executive government IL just ANA
right and impartial administration.
The power Of government Is moral.
1t is Righteousness which exalteth
nation. 1t is Righteousness which e'.
tablishes the throne. The work. n
righteousness shall lie Peace, and the
effect of righteousnes quietness anu
assurance, /. e., mutual confidence, Tor
ever. The kingdom of God. /. e. the
typical kingdom, the ideal govern.
ment, is Righteousness aud peace"
and (ther RESULT "j0y"-''joy In the
Holy Ghost" that is In the highest
faculties of The people; and joy, that
is, prosperity, in the msterial circum-
stances of the nation itnperfectly,
very imperfectly expr ssed In the
old political maxim 1.-The greatest hap
piness of the greatest number" SO
that in deeper sense than was ever
intended by the mem orable u.terance
of Nal oleon lila sense which
makes it applicable tO all times and
lands.-L' 'empirec'est la palx.-Con-
cluded.