Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-03-21
H)RWORLD WIDE PEACE
Interesting Paper by Mrs. A. T.
BruSke

umphS OF the mighty ana the defeats
OF the weak We read of wars of
aggression, like those OF the Israelites
and the inhabitants of Canaan, of
wars for aggrandizement like
those of Alexander and Caesar and
Napoleon, OF wars instigated by jeal-
ousy like that OF Rome subduing
Phoenecia, and of wars of rebellion
at oppression like the French revolu-
tion and the revolt of the American
colonies. We read OF wars in the
name OF religion, like the conquest of
Mexico by Cortez, and for reform,
cause was the existence OF slavery in
a nation founded on the principles of
freedom.
There still are wars of aggression,
like that of Russia against Persia,
and that OF Italy against Tripoli Cor
Turkey. There still is warfare at
tending political revolutions like that
in China and that in Mexico. But all
through the blood-staned centuries
OF the past, there have been occasion
al voices lifted in behalf of peace.
and the pleas they have uttered, if
not always effective with their con-
temporaries, have been the heritage
of those that came after them, so
that, as the generations have gone by
little by little there has been a growth
of interest in the cause OF peace, and
especially OF international peace.
AS civilization has advanced and as
it has been permeated by the spirit
OF Christianity, there has been a
growing repugnance to the atrocities
of war; an increasing appreciation OF
the blessings of peace; and on the
part of the best people in the differ
ent nations, a recognition of respon-
sibility to promote the welfare OF
mankind. In the ancient world, as
pirations and efforts to promote
peace were strictly limited to the
boundaries of the nation interested.
Israel desired and prayed for peace
in her borders. Both Greece and
Rome sometimes resorted 10 arbitra-
ton Of differences between two OF
their own states or colonies, but never
between their own nation and another.
II is said that if two contending states
appealed TO Rome, she ended the con
troversy as the Judge did that about
the oyster, she ate the oyster-she
annexed the states
The coming of Christ the Prince of
Peace into this world marked the
sure dawn of peace among the ma
tions. He was the first teacher OF
the universal brotherhood of man.
The principles he taught and the life
he lived, have been the potent in
fuence over every other to lead man
to deal with his fellowman as with
a brother. and 70 lead the nations in
the same path, For more than three
centuries his disciples were living il
lustrations of this teaching. and tho
after this their example was less
marked, yet the influences OF the
Christ-lfe have been working through
his followers for twenty centuries,
sometimes visibly and positively.
sometimes secretly: sometimes they
have seemed almost to have been
stiAcd. Today they are at work
throughout the world. and he who
runs may read.
Without attempting a detailed state
ment of what we now call the move
ment f9r world peace, let me refer
briefly TO number of historic Incl
dents that have been connected with
the development and unfolding OF
this idea
Frdm the fourth 10 the seventeenth
century there was little apparent
progress, but the seventeenth cent
ury witnessed decided advance. The
Fplan of Henry " in 1910 for the fed
eratipn and peace OF Europe, held the
germ of a world peace plan. but his
sudden death prevented its develop
ment. Fifteen years later. Hugo Gro
thus of Holland published his famous
book on "The Rights of War and
Peace" He set forth most forcibly
the cruclties OF war, the absurdity of
making war, and pleaded with great
}Christian carnestness for the use OF
+ arbitration. This book eXerted a
great influence throughout Europe.
Gustavus Adolphus is said to have
slept with copy OF il under his head
during his campaigns. This book
was the foundation for international
law, and the wonderful Developments
along this line. and builded on this
foundation, have greatly helped to-
wards settling and preventing dis
putes among the nations. In the
same century George Fox exerted a
powerful influence in England. His
work was to revive che position of
the early Christians, that the spirit
and teachings OF Jesus are entirely
antagonistic to war. He is said to
have uttered this principle with such
marvellous energy. moral thorough
ness, constancy and suffering endur-
ance that the whole English speaking
world was compelled to listen. and
even Europe heard his voice This