The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-23
Fighting and Praying.


the Canadian branch Of the Church Of Eng
February, or Feb. II, "as a day OF
special applications for the happy ending
OF the South African War" Meantime Gen.
BUTLER is fighting to bring il to q conclu-
sion favorable to the British. or the ending
for which, o fcourse, the Canadian Anglicans
will pray, since upon the success or failure
Of his present movement the issue of the
whole contest depends. That question, too,
is likely to be settled one way or the other
before the Canadians begin to send up
their supplicationS two weeks from next
Sunday.
Whether, then, that day Of prayer is to be
for them "A day o. thanksgiving or Of humili-
alton depends on the soldiers, tho guns and
the strategy of Gen. BUTLER, and the event
will be no more Influenced by the Divine
everything thar are any other human hap
pcningS. This VT do not say in any spirit
dcprcciative Of the Office and Importance Of
prayer, but simply because it is a fact.
While the Canadians are praying in thanks
giving or in penitential sorrow and dis
lTfSS, INC DbtIS VIII bc IuhN lIe 10 IHt
same overriding Providence, but the event
which would bring rejoicing to the Cana
dams and for which they would render
praise to Cop as the Author OF their
good fortune or the outcome which would
fill their hearts with grief as chastisement
administered by COP in the i%nscruta-
bic ways Of His Providence, would be in
tcrprctcd in exactly the other way by the
Beers. They are people with n faith in Divine
Providence and in the actual Interference of
GoD in human affairs which exceeds in
its completeness the faith OF most Chris
tians Of this day whether in Canada or else
where in Christendom. As they rest in the
intervals Of battle they sing hymns of
praise to COP and offer prayers to Him in
a spirit Of subsection to the Divine will.
Both President KRrGER and Gen. JoUDERT
are preachers Of religion and it is to
Cop that they look for guidance in this
war. They are like the Covenanters OF old
and go out to battle looking TO Him az their
leader and trusting absolutely to His mercy
and wisdom, but keeping their powder dry.
Every day Is n day Of prayer with them
almost every hour Of the daytheir thoughts
are directed To Heaven as the only Throne
from which come DEGREES recognized
rs absolute by them. They do not
need to appoint n special occasion for sup
p~lication as the Canadian Metropolitan has
done, for they constantly feel their near
ness TO COP and recognize their dependence
ON Him. Their prayers, however, treat as
blessings what the Canadians would lament
as bitter rhastiscment.
In South Africa zach Side is fighting
to the death 10 attain the blessing or
ward off the punishment. yet that this
war can come To n happy ending at any
time th" contestants may choose is as cer-
tain rs that il need never have occurred.
Tn" British can end ii any day by fol-
lowing the cXampl" and precedent of GLAD
STONE IN the Bocr War Of 1881. prrsi.
dent kRtGER can close it 10y appealing for
terms to England. l. it not therefore pre-
sumptous for either side to make %slpplira.
ton To GoD To bring To m end II conflict
whose conclusion j. wholly within the
ability and option OfContrstants each fight.
ing for his " advantage, when both are
straining every nerve To settle il for them.
selves and when neither will settle il OK.
cept under the compuI-ion Of earthly cir.
cum,tnn"rS which cach i doing his best
Ia control 10y purely human means and
instruments!
II Gen. BUTLER succeeds in defeating
the Beers and relieving Ladysmith the con,
tinuatiun Of the war until the British
arms ar" completely successful will be
made inevitable. 1t might be- that the con.
lict would 20 on for many months in suel