Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-12-24
The Law OF Peace.

1914 AnnuS terribHiS % So in view
Of what has happened since the first Of
August, must the year be remembered.
Not in the memory OF the Oldest men liv-
ing has Christmas dawned in Chrlsten-
dom on a world in such direful case.
II finds Europe ravaged by huge armies;
full OF rack, ruin widows, weeping wo-
mel, fatherless children II finds wrath
and deadly bitterness in the minds ofmen,
and uncounted dead in numb b,rleSs trench
es on vaster battefieldS than the world
ever saw before. II finds cities battered
and razed, and the most beautiful and
precious memorials OF the piety and arr OF
times long past roofiess, blackened, and
defaced. From end 10 end OF Europe
terror and destruction have stalked.
! Christian nations, naturally related by
strong ties OF blood. faith, and commerce,
have contended in a struggle OF the dead
hest and most bitter sort To many OF
us who have watched these terrific pro-
ceedings from the safety OF distance, they
have brought not only profound agitation,
but bewilderment What we say, is
Christianity, that, in continent uncer-
stood to be permested with il. such things
can happen ? Has il failed ? Was our
faith in il misplaced.
No. Christianity has moi failed. II has
been vindicated. That which has failed
TO keep peace is not Christianity, but
somebody quite the opposite. II is the
dedication OF force, and il has come to a
natural and inevitable catastrophe.
al bring" said Christ. mot peace, but
a sword" Why did Christ say that 2
What did He foreSee2 Does not that
saying conflict with the peace on earth,
good will to men" that the herald angels
sang?
No, il does moi conflict In the Gold
en- Rule, and in all the teaching that went
with il, Christ gave ;he great law OF peace
TO the world, great natural law like the
law of gravitation, which always works,
and by aid OF which results can be pre-
dicted from known premises. Just as
surely as there would be peace in truly
Christian world. BY as much as the
Golden Rule is the law Of world politics,
there will be peace between the nations /;
by as much as the rule of grab and get
governs, there will be war. Christs laws
would carry no authority il there were no
penalty for the breach oi them. But the
penalty is sure, perpetual, inevitable.
In some form every individual plys il
now and again in his progress through
life. In the terrible form OF war most oi
Europe has been paying il this year, has
paid il before thousand times, may pay
il still again and again, before the under
standing of the law Of Christ is clear
enough. and the acceptance OF the guild
ance OF His spirit is general enough, to
keep the world in peace.
There are thousands OF Christians in
Europe as tue, and doubtless as sanity,
as Christians have ever been. You find
them in all communions, and sometimes
outside every communion. But the poll
tics Of Europe have not been Christian.
They have been full Of lies, bad faith,
and greed. The motto OF nations OF
Europe has not been. Each tor all" (;
il has rather been, Each for hmseli +"
Against the mlschieis OF such politics,
ornaments are OF no avail II is selfish
ness and inordinate ambition that poison
life; and seIfishnesS lrmed is only the
more dangerous and the more certain TO
invite retribution. Each for all, and all
for EACH" must be the policy Of Europe
# peace is 10 atide with her; and in that
motto there is the Christian spirit. The
ambitions ofnstions must be subordinaied
to continental necessities Such subOr
dinaton must come. when The tunes are
ripe for il, perhaps in the form Of great
European confederation IL will not
come easily, because the ambitions OF
nations are extremely jealous. II will
come when il must and when The palpa-
able alternative good Of union IS destruc-
ton.
This vast war, ths1, that We have been
watching has not discredited Christianity.
but has yindicated il II has proclaimed
that there Can be 10 listing peace among
nations except such As is firmly based on
mutual forbesrance and federation. And
the same is true Of peace among the men
who comprise the nations Riches are
the armament OF men. They cannot Of
themselves bring peace TO their owners.
For men and for nations runs the same
law OF peace: Whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you. even so do
4 - Ua,,l6Bc