Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-28

The encyclical of Pope Benedict
XIV, urging peace among the war
ring nations, cited causes for the
war which are in the minds Of those
who have given the most serious re-
Election to the situation. Four causes
were named by him: Lack Of mutual
love among men; disrespect for au-
thority; injustice on the part OF ono
class against another, and consider
alton of material interests as the sole
object of human activity.
1.-THE spirit OF Christ does not reign
today" said the Pontiff. 1.-THE people
talk today of brotherhood more than
they ever have before, yet brother
hood is ignored today to degree
greater than ever before. Natio rs,
races, cities and individuals are d.
vided today by rancor and selfish
ness more than by political frontiers.
The lack OF reciprocal charity Is
causing lack OF respect for au-
rthority."
For a long time the thoughts OF
men have been under the influence
Of a materialistic philosophy. There
has also developed in recent years an
idealistic philosophy, when it had
dawned in the minds of small body
of far-seeing men Of the leading ma
lions what the trend of matertalistic
thought really meant for civilization,
The vision of disaster possible caused
reaction in. favor of religion, mo-
raEty, the finer cultural forces of life
and toward the reality of the spirit
ual life. 1t has been the influence OF
this idealism that has caused the in
creased sentiment for brotherhood
in recent years, the new inquiry con-
corning both the spiritual and ethical
teaching of Christianity, the modih :
cation of too rigid economic thought
in favor of cooperation, the desire
for the humanizing of law. the social
conscience and consciousness in po-
litical thought and action. and the
extensive movement for world peaeo
and the development Of international
law with a final world tribunal or
appeal.
Gathering Moro Power.
But, alas, idealistic philosophy has
not had the time to do its construe-
tive work. 1t had come little too
late to prevent materia1istic philoso-
ply from doing considerable destruc-
tive work. For the present brother
hood ideas and ideals. peace move
ments, moral and religious convic-
tons are held In allegiance. These are
none the less strong, but are in quiet
ness gathering more power TO teach
and emphasize more than ever the
supremacy of the spiritual forces of
life, when the frenzy Of materialism
has spent itself and has done APP
parently its worst. The souls of
many men have been RECALLED, scared
and intoxicated with the teaching of
materialism, the philosophy of the
brutal, of doubt and despair, and OF
the unconscious"
The world never needed more than
today the philosophy of the conscious
a philosophy that is conscious posi-
lively and persistently of the good
ness, mercy, purity, love and spirit
ual power of God, and in particular
the consciousness that these higher
qualities of life and the spiritual
power of God in human affairs are
bound to be triumphant and that evil
win be overcome by the good.
When human passions run high and
strife among men exists, and the hand
of one man, or of one nation, is
raised with murderous intent against
another man or another nation, 1t
appears as though evil is having Its
way, but the situation Is in appear
ance mainly. Such conditions are on
the surface of things. The stronger
currents run deeper. Goodness de-
velops more slowly, but more surely
EVIL becomes mere demonstrative
and visible frequently because the
| forces of goodness are hard pressing
! it. In faith there is as an element OF