The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

why not try Christianity?' asks the
editor Of the Outlook in the current num-
Der Of that periodical, as he analyses the
| causes Of the present war. He says:
| Many people are in despair over the
future of the world; after thousands of
years of strife and struggle, Of heroic ef-
fort and sacrifice, OF patient search for
knowledge, of passionate endeavor, to
make life wholesome and safe, half Eu-
roue. they say. is laying waste the fer
tility developed by incalculable toll, de-
stroying that which centuries have built
/ up or accumulated; men, women, and
children are dying as mere incidents IN
fratricidal struggle: thus a sham is
made of what we have called civilization,
| and religion is used as a mer adjunct of
war. Half Europe is pulling down with
fierce energy and marvellous skill what
it has built up with infinite toll and pain.
The flower of young manhood is dying
on the battlefields. and the strength and
genius of the future are dying with
them, and all this in the twentieth cen
tury! In this struggle some nations are
| fighting for rights as dear to religion as
| to patriotism, but the failure OF the ma
tions TO practice Christianity in interna-
tOnal relations has involved them all in q
common tragedy.
Society has followed many guides-mili-
| tary genius, commercial development,
scholarship. various forms of govern
ment, numerous creeds; and Europe is a
shambles! One thing the nations have
never tried, one guide they have never
| followed.
Some countries are more Christian than
Others but no countrN has consistently
applied Christian precepts in its relations
| with other countries. Wherever Chris
tianity has been tried it has indicated
Il IL -H,Ey,o - IL
life but as a working principle This
country tried it in dealing with China and
with Cuba, and confidence and friendship
have followed. The national government
dealt with Japan for six decades in a
i spirit OF helpfulness, kindness and cour-
tesy, and won the warm regard and
gratitude Of the japanese. We have tried
to govern the Philippines in the same
spirit, and unless the endeavor to help
policy the result will be the same in the
islands. This may be said also Of Eng
land in Egypt and latterly in India But
this policy has been late and an excep-
tional development.
Everywhere in the world there are men
and women who carry the Christ spirit
into their personal dealings. but the ma
tlons In their dealings with each other
are still largely pagan.
4 IhOSe whose Iall1 IN NTOQ Is shaken Dy
the awful spectacle OF courage and
cruelty are blind 20 the most obvious fact
In the tragedy; that II Is the penalty of
broken law. the inevitable reapfng of the
long sowing Of greed, suspicion, hatred;
4 IL the harvesting Of the forces of evil,
hagainst which. In a world In which men
are men because they are not automAtons
but free 20 choose good or evil the
prophets have thundered IN every age.
There IL no mystery IN this colossal trag-
edy; q Is the logical and Inevitable result
Of broken law In n divinely ordered
world; q h an awful vindicatlon Of q God
who has said In countless ways. The
wages % sin IL death" society r. not
the victim Of a blind fate: u IL paying
the price of inhdelity 20 the law Of right
eouanean. which Il the VIII of God, and
of ltn rejection of love. which the Christ
declared - the only rule Of ilfe. The na-
tons have chosen greed. suspicion. and
hatred instead of hrothsrly respect for
one another'a rinht and interests. ua-
acrnpulous composition Instead % the Coz
operation uhleh would aiVa universal
pfnanoFIlf Ne poiiuy of hindoFina each
others nfoufh Instead of tha opon.
hearted aelrfnlneat uhloh would turn tha
dream ~ world neace lHis = blessed
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