The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-19
From the Literary Digest.

' YANY earnestly believe that the continued since the special day appointed by the President must bear an early fruitage. If this expectation faiis' there is assurance that the reflex action on the American people will at least deep en their spiritual life The response 'o the Presidents call "could not have been more general or more fervent," says the New York Times, fin an era when un- belief has seemed so common ana the things of the spirit so lightly esteemed. The efforts will be continued, 1t Is De- lieveS, in widening scope. Special pray CTS '.of uncommon eloquence and beauty of phrase" had been prepared for special use on peace Sunday by Cardinal Farley and Bishop Greer, and for the Carnegie hall meeting Rabbi Wise framed plea for freedom for the common man ana for confirmation in the American peop'e of settled hate for war
 The ultimate good of such observances is debated in some minds. The view of the helplessness of such appeals is perhaps best stated by President Hadley of Yaie' in his matriculation sermon to the univer- sity student body. As the New fork Sun reports him, the doctor says
 with our illusions shattered and our very ideals shaken we crave helplessly for peace: and as far as the mere cray ing goes we are ready to pray for it.
 But how little this mere craving amounts to! What effect will it have on Enslishman or German, Frenchman or Russian each desperately convinced of the righteousness of his own cause, for which he has already suffered and Is pre- pared to die if need be, that prayers for peace are offered by members of other nations comfortably distant from the fray and from the passions that evoked it? No direct effect whatever.
 Tt is wrong to dignify this profitless expression of desire by the name of prayer. Unless we follow up our prayers by intelligent help in promoting peace on earth they are but the vain repettions of the heather. They may have certain | use as a public recognition of the con- trolling power of God over the affairs of
 men; otherwise they are no better than
 the peace parades and the children's peace cards and other similar manifestations of misdirected zeal with which we are now l familiar.
 People think they are doing their duty
 when they are simply indulging the lux ury of expressing their own emotions ir public. To expect such prayer to be an
 swcred is folly on the part of the ignorant 1 and blasphemy on the part of those whc l should be wiser"
 l In an editorial expression The Sun ob- l serves that ''even though immediate wis l ible result be lacking, no one need doubi that bounteous response will be made te the prayers for peace which went up from all quarters of this country. ~'Providenct has it's own subtle ways of distributing 1 it's mercies, and though we may littl'
 know them in the larger sense, there ar'
 some which even the dim eyes of reason may perceive:
 Thus in its reflex action upon tho 1 American people themselves this great united act of devotion must have puri | flying and elevating influence. The un | selfish purpose, the abstraction from ma terial considerations, the sense of brother hood with the suffering. the uplifting o 1 spirit toward the higher realm of idea' wherein hatred. anger and revenge hav' no part, cannot fail to exalt the nationa consciousness and stimulate its progress to lofty aims and standards in its or
 ganic life.
 "Piety will confidently hope that th' massed applications of an entire peopl' may have direct influence upon thu
 fearful struggle that Is being waged il Europe Nor is there any good pur pose served In casting denial or doub upon faith so full of beauty and com I fort The question penetrates into tn region of the unknowable, and the an swer of the heart has as much authoritl as that of the cervical cortex.
 ''But there Is one view in which al can place themselves in accord with eacl
 other and with the great destiny tha guides the affairs of nations and of men Ali must agree that as the war with al its cruel features must have its place ant purpose of good in the universal plan
 70 1t will be stopped by universal wisdom
 at the moment of highest good to all tn creatures of God and to the plans he ha made for their ultimate perfection. 1T those who hold this trust the prayer I of the nation will be of great sweetnes
 as . means by which men may put them