The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
WHAT CHURCH :


Returning delegates to the recent
meeting of the executive committee of
the federal council of Churches of
Christ in America, held at Richmond,
describe Secretary Bryan's address on
what the Churches Man Do in the In
terest of Peace" as one of the most i'm
pressive deliverances OF the, conven-
tion. Mr.. Bryan spoke to an audience
that packed the auditorium and his
words apparently received the full ap-
provaI of his hearers.
II war were a blessing, as some
claim, he said, we would try to get into
instead of keeping out of war; we
would cultivate war. Mr.. Bryan stated
that he approved the position of Presi-
dent Wilson concerning the prepared
ness of this country, as presented by
the President in his speech to Con-
Eress. Nations with great armies and
navies, said Mr.. Bryan, are very liable
TO be pushed into war-desiring il or
not
The best preventive OF war some
say is fear, but Mr.. Bryan contended
that fear works only when one nation
knows it is weaker than another and
then It only serves as a preventive for
one side and while fear lasts.
The thing that promotes war most,
hate, he said. and in that mood it will
not be difficult to precipitate war. The
great preventive OF war, declared the
speaker, is love-no one would fight
the man he loved; and love must be
driven ont in order to introduce hate.
The ten commandments Mr.. Bryan
held to apply as much to nations as to
individuals, though it was apparently
not the customs Of nations to so regard
them. Thou shalt not kill" Thou
shalt not steal" Thou shalt not
covet." are in force in national as in
individual life. Somehow people think
that when one man kills another it is
murder, but if thousands do it then 1t
is not murder. but there is more or
less glory in it. The quality of the
Two acts Mr.. Bryan insisted were the
same.
The principle of pepsIoning the civil
employees of the government received
the approval of the executive commit
tee of the federal council of the
Churches of Christ, when a resolution
calling upon the government to take
care OF the old clerks was passed at
the recent meeting held in Richmond.
The m"tisN was presented by 4 repre-
scntat'v1 of the Lords Day Observ-
ancc rr' New York, and was refer
red, t.. ..'..r with a question concern
ing tn "I-quacy of government sala-
ries. to tho councils committee on the
church and social service.
The third in the series of lectures
under the auspices of First and Sec
be given at Polls Theater this after
noon at $3.50 o'clock by Virgil o.
Stricken, c. S, a member of the board
of Iectureship of the First Church of
Christ, Scientist, in Boston. Mass. The
subject of the lecture will be Chris
tian Science. Mr.. Strickler has been
heard here and is known as one of the
most forceful speakers on the board
of lectureship. Ample arrangements
have been made for seating all visi-
tors. The entire course provided for
this season consists Of seven lectures.
A Christmas tree to the children of
many nations will be the feature OF the
Yuletide celebration at the Gospel Mis-
sion. Each poor child will receive a
pair of new stockings filled with gifts
of nuts and candy. and as long as the
missions funds last gifts of clothing
will be given TO the most needy. Gifts
Of toys, provisions and clothing are de-
sired by the mission.
One hundred Quaker young men
from the universities OF Cambridge and
oxford have left for the front in the
present war. They are not going as
soldiers. but as a special ambulance
corps and perhaps will face dangers
quite as great as those of the soldier.
The equipment and support of these
young men is provided by the Quakers
of England. They have decided to go
TO Scrvia as that country seems to be
in greatest need of such care as they
can give.
Writing from London, November -,
to the Board of Foreign Missions,
Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop
Hartzell says:
THE joint Episcopal visitation of
Bishop Anderson and myself occupied
u month and was at times strenuous,
on the European continent,
but on the whole exceedingly interest
ing and encouraging. Martial law was
everywhere, our American passports
many times vised-had often to be pre-
scented.
ON reaching each city we first called
upon the highest authority, civil or
and were everywhere re-
Ceived cordially. Our last interview
was with the governor general in AL
giers When / asked him if he would