Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-23
American Churchman Is
Envoy to Warning Nations
Groups For International Friendship Organized in
Germany, France, England and Russia
(By The Religious RambJ%r.l

for last August, one for Protestant
zerland, on August /, and the other
for Roman Catholic churches, to meet
in Liege, Belgium, on August 10.
Delegates from twelve nations and
thlrty-three religious bodies were to
meet at Constance on August /,
spending Sunday, August ., IN prayer,
ana the following two days in con-
ference. Dramatically, war broke as
the peace conference met and the
delegates were forced to flee for their
homes minus baggage and money,
owing to the instant collapse of the
transportation and banking systems.
Delegates to the Constance meeting
experienced grave difficulties in get
ting back home, while the assembly
at Liege on August 10 was far from
being peace conference.
So extraordinary a collapse of pre-
tentious plans evoked cynical remarks
on all sides. Articles and speeches
upon the breakdown of Christianity
became common in all countries. I'm
doubtedly, in the fist passion of war,
even some of the Christian leaders of
the countries involved expressed SEN
timents more pagan than Christian;
and brotherhood was the least of the
words in their vocabulary.
An American Into the Breach
Nothing quite like this had ever be-
fore occurred in the world; indeed, it
was by-product of the new interna-
tonal conditions, which have made
all the earth neighborhood. Quickly
the American spirit, which, as Kip
ling says,
Turns keen, untroubled face,
Home to the instant need of things"
asserted itself. From among the Con-
stance delegates was chosen a man
fitted to be Christianity's ambassado
nd oh nt,1 10
an American could hope to be re-
ceiVed with favor by the various coun-
tries. A member of the Society of
Friends was historically fitted for this
unique service of binding up broken
ties. An experienced traveller, per-
fectly at home lin all the nations of
Europe, and able to speak the Ian
guages involved, was also necessary.
Prof. Benjamin f. Battin, Phi. D.,
OF the chair of German in Swarth-
more College, alone seemed to fill all
the requirements. The Church Peace
Union financed the project, and DR..
Battin was given a years leave of
absence from his classes
So, while societies and conventions
nave been adopting peace resolutions,
DR.. Battin has gone from nation to
nation; and the genuineness of his
neutrality is attested by the fact that
he has been welcomed alike by re-
the strongest branch of the Interna-
tonal Friendship Alliance exists, in
Germany, in Russia, in France in
Holland, Denmark and Switzerland.
lie has not yet effected a branch or
ganization in Austria, because of the
absence at the front of the leaders
to whom he would naturally look
what Europe's Religious Leaders Say
Observers who have not known of
the existence of DIR. Battn's mission,
and of the agencies for good will
winch he has set to working even
amid wars turmoil, have remarked
during recent months the diminishing
acrimony and bitterness in the utter
ances of the leaders of thought in the |
various nations now in conflict. The |
early bitterness has been succeeded by
a milder and more charitable tone |
NO longer are ministers saying that
they will never resume Christian fell
lowship with their country's foes. In |
stead, there is a general recognition
that, after the war is over, there must |
be radical advances by Christianity |
If a new world order of thought is to |
be secured; and if the spiritual les
sons of the present time are to bear
their expected results.
While DIR. Battin has made no gem
eral public report, 1t is known that
he tells an impressive story of the re-
hgious awakening which has followed
the progress of the war France is a |
notwithstanding nation. Great Brit
ain is displaying something of the
dominant religious spirit of Puritan
days. Germany's Christianity is strik-
ing in to the depths of spiritual ex-
perience, and leading ministers to say
that a revival of religion has already !
come to the nation. Russia's zeal for
religion, in this testing time has ex-
pressed itself, in part, by sending TWO
million New Testaments to the men
in the trenches.
Around the whole circle Of the
horizon there are unprecedented signs
of great spiritual daybreak. Per-
haps, if this means a religious rebirth !
for humanity, even the great war it |
self will not be too great a price to |
pay.
THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.