The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-01
LAYS WAR ON *
DEVIL HIMSELF
Bishop Says, However, Condi-
tons Were Favorable in Each
of Militant Countries 4,
The Living Church.

Inc Living Church.
The Bishop of Western New York
lately put forth a Pastoral Letter re-
lating to the war, which is dated
London, September lst. The Bishop
expresses the belief that the outburst
of war must be attributed to none
other than the devil himself. He
asks, however, that the conditions in
each of h militant countries be con
sidered as showing how this satanic
power should a become possible.
He points to the fierce militarism Of
Germany" its materialism, its an
archy, it's Goddess Socialism," and
the large amount Of denial of the
faith in it's halls OF learning. He
points to France ''trampling officially
on all religions, prosecuting priests
and nuns and driving them forth to
ship unutterable: degrading and detl-
ing churches; exhibiting laugh
ing GalliOs IN it's boulevards as
they sip their absinthe or tell the
filthy tale; legalizing vice and even
making a merit Of the social evil" He
points to Austria, with its supersti-
ton and its materialistic people He
points to Russia as illiterate, ruled
with a rod of iron, welding the knout
and prosecuting the Hebrew, hold
ing the Pole under lard rule, and with
it's superstitions in the church. He
points to Servia with the mailed fist
that strikes the killing blow without
remOrse." He points to Belgium
whose "chief ruler was a scandal
among the peoples OF the earth
through his blotted life and unclean
deeds, through his Cruelties and des-
pOtism and the murderous hand
among the tribes Of the dark
continent. The Congo atrocities, ap-
parently unrebuked by the national
| NnIna Cn0nood fN nr0C0nf fhof 1au6
as the abettor Of monstrous crimes
and of a tyranny hat was reeking
with blod and cruel deviltry." He
points to England. our own mother
land, which was caught in the very
act Of despoiling the church at he
the act Of disendowment Of the church
in Wales lis to commit the awful
crime Of sacrilege, to violate the
S~aviour's Bride, to rob Almighty God.
Fol- such a horrible sin, so flagitious
a crime, will not-may we say-has
not. God, today called to account
Bishop Walker recognizes, however.
that our own land is far from I'M
tainted in much h a he attributes to
these other nations. He calls us to a
severe national self-examination. care
our national sins reaping their award
Of penalty? The godlessness of So
ciety; the impurity of the dance and
u ~ hOVC1 VI lil0 LILIES, Tic SdIIlD-
ling and o~ver-reaching in specula-
ton and in ordinary business; the
untruth and dishonesty that charac-
terize many schemes OF finance; the
neglected church, and d~esecrated
Lords Day; the violated Decalogue:
the extravaganza and luxury and
waste; the bitterness of political par
ties; the oppression Of capital and the
hate of b Of the employer; the
unjust legislation, the enactment OF
statutes for political profit; the law
that benefits n and unrighteously
Injuries anOther's interest; the reck-
lessness and worldliness and scandal
that characterize society; the awful
growth and Haunting defiance Of tina,
curse Of the world, the ~orce evil:
all these, truly our national sins
have they brought US the whip Of
punishment and thes olemn rebuke
Of our patient Saviour?
Time will reveal whether create,
woe n deeper depths Of sorrow
shall be ours, whether there shall be
a graVer shaking of his country on,
OF It's arrogant complacency and its
Wll1ul social wrong and its presump.
tuous sin. Repentance, renewal. the
righteous lIfe-for these let US. az in.
Vlduals. as a nation, search and pray.