The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-02
UNIVERSAL PEACE.

IEACE IS Cn6 emu TO De dCJdluoQ UV
the Christian civilization of the age
This is demanded by the spirit and
genius of the Christian religion. 1t
is required by the ethical teaching of
Christ. Christianity makes no pro-
vision for war. This Christian spirit
appears to be controlling the nations
of the earth as never before.
1t has been now twenty five years
since any important war has taken
place between the nations protesting
to be controlled by the Christian re
ligion, and within this period, the
sentiment for peace has unquestiona-
bly, advanced beyond that of any for
mer age. There are now organized
societies in every civilized nation for
the promotion of this sentiment that
number among their members many
! of the leading minds of two CONT
nents. These men and women of
enlarged Christian culture and filled
with the spirit of the Master are US
ing all their influence to bring about
a permanent and universal peace
among the nations of the civilized
and Christianized world.
War is adestructiveto property, life,
and morals. 1t impoverishes, de-
grades, and brutalizes the communi-
ties where it exists and has control.
1t is unnatural, irrational, and i'm
moral. 1t is contrary to the conclu
sions of the reason, the voice of
conscience, and the benevolence of
the heart. In it's spirit it is unjust OPP
pressive and cruel. In language
and literature it has been classed with
pestilence and famine as one of the
three special and terrible judgments
of God upon nations for their wicked
ness.
1t is not strange, then, that the re-
ligion which is grounded on the uni
versal Fatherhood of God and the
ethics which grows out of the uniyer-
sal brotherhood, man should be OPP
posed to it. 1t is natural that Chris
tian craftsmanship should try to
prevent it, and Christian civilization
finally overcome it. The existence
and influence of Christianity in the
world, and the results of its teaching,
upon human thought, feeling and &C
ton, presents very rational ground
for the conclusion and the hope that
permanent and universal peace will
finally be established.
The prophets often predicted the
coming in of universal peace as the
result of the reign of Christ. HE
maketh wars to cease and desolations
to come to an end" "He shall
break the bow, and cut the spear in
sunder, and burn the chariots in the
fire." 1.-THE nations shall learn war
no more, but shall beat their swords
into plowshares and their spears into
pruning hooks" "The work of right
eousness is peace, and the effect of
righteousness, quietness and assur-
ance forever" His name shall be
called the Prince of Peace" AS the
result of the advent of Christ there
should be son earth peace and good
will to men," These inspired proph-
ecies give us the promise of the reign
of universal peace on the earth as
the result of the saving work Of Christ
in the conversion and salvation of the
human race. This must be the out
come of the success of Christ in his
divine mission of love and mercy to
the world. Man cannot have the
spirit and obey the law of love given
by Christ without the final establish
ment of peace among the nations of
the earth.
Under the influence of the Spirit
and teaching OF Christianity there is
being developed a system of interna-
tional law under the control of which
arbitration and not war will be the
method of settling questions involv-
ing the interest of different nations.
The latest and most important
movement in the direction of disarma-
ment and arbitration was the seventh
meeting Of the Peace Congress of the
world, at Buda Pesth, in Hungary, in
September last. Delegates were pres
ent from more than one hundred
peace societies from all the countries
of Europe and from the United States
of America. The appeal Of the Peace