The Washington herald., 1914-11-02

Inc liberty OF no country IS worth drop OF blood.
said Daniel o'connell Perhaps he was right If
liberty is to be reached real liberty perhaps it
must be by some other way. In theory we believe
that we know that way. Two thousand years ago it
was pointed out with unmistaIzbIe distincness Our
refusal accept it in fact has involved US in
tradicton that permeates all our life and that finds
its startling expression in the brazen efforts of
men to reconcile Christianity and war.
OF late the Germans have been criticised for the
pious tone of their utterances. But they are no
worse than the others. And they are no worse than
nearly all warriors have BEEN In time of war; as we'll
in time of peace cajole themselves And after
cajoling themselves il is natural that they should try
to cajole the Deity But there exceptions. In
Europe there sects very like the Quakers in this
country, resolutely set against that the mem
bers, if they had to choose between going to
being put to DEATH would choose death. Always in
the world there has been small minority struggling
to live by the precepts of Jesus For the most part
they have been regarded as eccentric and quaint or
mad.
The ridicule directed against the Kaiser for his
piety is by no means The contradiction between
war and religion has long been theme for writers!
Often, the way to war, regiments will stop in
churches, carrying their war emblems into the very
house of God And there they will be blessed and
exhorted to go forth bravely to their duty, their
duty being to slaughter and to MAIN other children
of Cod. On the way they may sing some of
those inspiring hymns that echo the spirit of war
like Onward, Christian Soldiers" or "A Mighty
Fortress Is Our God" And after great victory it
has long been customary for the victors assemble
in noble cathedral and to assist in the celebrating
of "Te Deum"
Further spiritual dignity is added to war by the
presence of clergymen, usually called chaplains.
Protestant and Catholic, they abound wherever
armies go. In their military uniforms they make
an appearance impressive and yet disturbing to those
who think about signihcances They show great
deal of courage and they get little glory or credit
of any kind. Their association with war would be
sublime if it were maintained under protest; IT, like
the Good Shepherd, they followed their wandering
sheep in the hope Of saving them from destruction
and sin. But, rule, they grieve in defeat and
rejoice in victory. On the of battle many of the
soldiers ask for the forgiveness of their sins and
they promise to try to sin no more, even while
they are preparing for death struggle with their
fellow creatures in the morning
Even after death the anomaly is carried on The
mighty warrior slain in battle is carried into church
wrapped in the emblems of war. In the very naked
ness of death he is rgged out with the insignia of
his disobedience to the laws of the God he was
supposed to serve. A eulogy is pronounced on him,
often from the altar itself
Perhaps the redeeming feature in all this
woefu business is the absence of conscious defiance
Behind the denials of God behind the willfulness of
the mind, there may persist loyalty of spirit The
words of Christ the may express the divine
attitude: Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do"