The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-16

WCiC WaSCu lOl iiVSuOht A'NS
our own for independence, and, again,
In osder to defend the Union-these
wars must have been necessary and
right
but even If we grant that certain
wars like these have better reason for
being waged than other wars, war
itself as method Of settling disputes
Is never the Christian way Of doing 1t.
In other words, In any war that the
world ever saw, one nation or another,
one side or another, was to blame for
resorting to war. 1t Is easy to see
that nation or person unjustly as
sailing another Is more to blame than
the one assaulted, and under certain
well known and undisputed conditions
a nation or an individual might be
justified in protecting self against as
sault, even as we would be justified
in resisting the murderous attack Of
an insane man or mad dog If we or
our dear ones were In danger from
their attacks.
"But 1t Is doubtful If the Christian
nations have ever done all in their
power to avoid war, even war Of the
kind that might be called a war of
self defense. The more Christian the
nations become the less and less even
outward excuse for war can be found
England was too far advanced along
the line Of Christian knowledge and
training to provoke the war with her
colonies. 1t was an inexcusable war
from her standpoint. England today
has no righteous excuse worth naming
for carrying on the war in South Afri
ca. 1t Is monstrous proposition to
advance that in this age Of the world,
with all England's Christian knowl.
edge and training by the Prince of
Peace, there was necessity to precipi
tate war In order to settle the compar.
atively unimpOrtant differences that
existed between her and the Dutch re-
publics. Granting that the injustice com.
planned of was all 1t has been claim.
ed, still II could not by any possibility
justify war in the sight of God or men.
Can we imagine Christ eXhorting his
disciples to wage war for such
cause? 1t Is easier for us to imagine
him saying again as he said when on
earth. Turn the other cheek 1t would
seem that Christ's teaching meant any
thing. even loss of life, rather than a
resort to force. to brute violence, in or,
der to gain our ends.
"War has changed the history Of the
world more than all its inventions or
its arts. 1t has kept the world back In
barbarism and educated 1t in cruelty.
1t has wiped out whole peoples living
in chosen life Of peace 1t has carried
wrong and sin and shame and loss
into countless homes and hearts. 1t Is
a thing abhorred of God and directly
contrary to the teachings Of his Son.
the Prince Of Peace. To speak and
sing and act In its behalf is to keep
alive a spirit that ought to be no more
part Of the civilized life of humanity
God speed the day when the battleshp
shall rust at the wharf and the big
guns shall be silent so long that the
birds shall build their nests in them:
when the vast armies that stand as q
drain to country's real need shall be
sent home to till the fields and fill the
shops of useful industry; when the
fabulous SUMS now spent by the world
to equip and maintain it's navies and
armies shall be used in producing food
and clothing and the things that hu
mainly needs for its comfort and prog
ress; when the whole earth shall be
filed not with the glory Of war; for
the glory of war is the glory of the
lowest pit, but with the glory of the
Lord, who came into this world to
teach men that they were brethren and
ought to live together in love-"
There was q good deal Of discussion
over this talk of the presidents. and
the college was divided In its senti'
ments. But there was growing mum.
Der Of students who began to look at
the subject as the president did. Among
those was Edward. There was some
thing In his heart and mind that re
sponded with real feeling to the presi
dents presentation.
Willis had begun to fall back into his
old ways again. There was no excuse
for him. But Edward bore with CIV
crything up to certain point with al
most Christian patience. Willis had
not begun his former card playing in
the ROOM but Edward soon learned
that he was meeting almost every
night either with one of the boys IL
the upper hall or at the old society
rooms down town. He did not seem to
be actually drunk when he came In
very late from these occasions. but
Edward knew he had been drinking
and the first time he noticed II he
spoke to him about It.
"You remember, Willis. what you
agreed to do II ] came back? You
promised to let the stuff alone"
"Well. haven't II" asked Willis, with
tome Indignation.
mo, you know you've been drinking
lately"
Nothing but a little beer" replied
Willis doggedly.
you've been drinking" repeated Ed.
ward. slowly. "And you know one con-
dition Of my coming back was that you
let every kind of drink alone"
willis went over to the window and
began to whistle. Edward boiled up
suddenly, as he did once in a great
while.