New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-23
THE FUTILE CRY OF PEACE.
Correspondent Thinks the idea Visionary
and Abstract

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In a New York paper of Saturday there
published an interview with W. T Stead. in which
that gentleman advises the people Of New York TO
read less of the Thaw case and more Of the Book
of Isaiah and refers the delegates OF the Peace
Congress Just closed to the prophecy in Isaiah H.
where 1t is written that I'm the last days" many
people shall that they will walk in the ways OF
their God. and beat their swords into plough
shares and their spears into pruning hooks: and
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.
Since Mr.. Stead has brought the limeght Of the
Bible to bear upon the subject OF the peace move
ment and assured the delegates that they may
base their hope for the realization OF their plans
upon that quotation from the Scriptures, allow the
writer 20 call attention to a singular fact which
Mr.. Stead seems 10 have overlooked Isaiah Il
does say that the Lord has declared that there
shall be mo more waT'-not at all; but. the
contrary. IT is many people who shall say" lin
the last days that there shall be no more war
II ever prophecy met fulnlment in a specific man
ner 1t in the occurrence of the great congress
Of peace in New York jeremiah another inspired
author. writing of the same peace cry movement
in Chapter vi. Il. says they shall say. Peace
peace: when there IS no peace" And how could
world when there was no peace In the unarmed
The idea Of general disarmament and universal
problem as ever occupied the minds OF well mean
take notice Of obvious truth that TO secure
universal peace universal conversion,
it be had. at any price. in any other way
The peace that passes ali understanding is not
the result Of human legislation or arbitration
treaties, and never has been II Mr. Stead wishes
to know just how things going 10 be In the
near future, let him read Joel H. 9-l3 In Isaiah IL
the Lord shows us what the people Will be say
ing but in Joel iii. g. the same Lord shows US
what the people will be doing in the last days"
1t reads follows: Proclaim ye this among the
Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men,
let ali the men OF war draw near: let them come
up; beat your ploughshares into swords and your
pruning hooks Into spears: let the weak say am
strong Quite a different matter. you see! And
IL take these two Scriptures together under con-
sideration. we find that ''in the last days tho
people will be saying that peace Is coming ana
there shall be no more war while the Lord OF
heaven and earth is declaring that war is coming
war; too. a gigantic sCale for the Scriptures
declare, Let the heather be awakened. and who
can fail 10 that the heather nations be-
stirring themselves never before. and preparing
for the last mad strife OF war and carnage. in
which all nations TO be engaged?
As a matter OF fact. admit the Bible. and find
that the universal peace cry OF to-day Is only a
"cry'-nothing more-and living IN the last days
of the Scripture referred TO by Mr.. Stead. II be-
comes IN reality, stupendous and significant sign
in the earth that Christ Is coming and OF the end
Of the world! For IL is st. Paul who writes upon
the subject: For yourselves know perfectly that
the day OF the Lord so cometh a thief in the
night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety:
then sudden destruction cometh upon them
and they shall not escape" II Mr. Stead and the
advocates Of peace. legislative and judicial peace
going to take the Bible the of their
counsel, they viii be bound 70 admit that. instead
Of peace and security II is be war ruin
destruction and desolation To the individual tho
Man of Nazareth speaks peace, To communities
Think not that am come 10 send peace earth
came not to send peace. but sword
JOHN s. WIGHTATAN.
Albany. April q. 1907.