Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-24
LENTEN LETTER BY
 BISHOP BREWSTER.
European War Not Demonstration of
 RactedoNn of Christianity.

Rt- Rev. Cnauncey B. Brewster has
 the following Lenten letter in the
 February Churchmani
 This year brings us 8. Lent such as
 our people have not known since the
 Civil War. The aspect of the world
 today calls vividly to mind those sol
 chm words: Upon the earth distress
 of nations with perplexity
 mems hearts failing them for fear, and
 for looking after those things which are coming on the earth" There has
 been some cheap proclaiming that
 Christianity has broken down. It were
 more in accordance with fact to speak
 of a breakdown of European civiliza-
 ton so far as it had suffered the
 domination of principles that are not Christian.
 The situation, however, has another side which it were not to ignore. Let
 us not forget the lavish devotion, the
 indomitable heroism and unsparing
 sef-sacrifce that have shown what
 human nature is capable of.
 There is, moreover, an ever growing
 conviction that all these fine posSibil-
 itles of human nature might be elicted
 and developed in strenuous strggle
 against various evils that menace hu-
 man welfare as well as in killing huA man beings. As never before, war is
 now put upon it's defence before the Judgment of mankind. In this deVas- tation of happy lands, in this whole oc1lS slaughter OL PISClOdS llNSSs ltcES
 is seen to be not a. reductio ad absur- dunn but reductio ad horrendum of the Wanton and wicked waste of war. There has been fear of the hard ening effect of the daily details of the war upon the finer instincts of human ity in general Over against that is to be considered the irresistible tide of sympathy with the need and suffering 1 caused This worldwide sympathy is q demonstration of human brother 4 hoe !, ,-,I1< 1 of emotion. It has been something deeper. It has meant actual self denial; for example, the colored stud ents at our school at Raleigh fore
 going their Christmas festivities and giving to the relief of the BelgianS the money that would llae been spent; the Connecticut Sons of the Revolu- ton giving up for the same purpose
 their annual dinner; to mention only these out of many instances.
 Impressive IS the concentra ton of the worlds attention upon the moral interests at stake in this titanic l struggle. Notwithstanding attempts to divert attention and confuse issues, men generally have not been slow to recognize the moral import @ of the questions involved. There has been developed what is perhaps d new sen sitiveness touching public right and wrong. This is deeply significant. Finally we witness a stop to much of tic lFlNOlILS dllu lever OI lll6 d SL6AUS e ing of pulse and Sobering of desire. There are signs of a, certain awe des- cending upon the children of men. | They are learning anew the fear of 1 God which is the beginning of wis dom. There is a solemn hush, which means more serious thought, more
 earnestness of purpose. Men are turn 1 ing from trivialities to tremendous realities. They arc turning to God as 1 their refuge and strength We have l reason to expect a real quickering of
 interest in the things of God. All this
 means for the Church and its mem 1 bers opportunity and demand.
 1 There is thus especial and emphatic 1 call to make Lent this year more than ever before 8 season of earnest think 1 ing, meditation and prayer, of gen uine self f-denial and self discipline, of l large hearted and helpful service to l others, of brave and hopeful endeavoT on behalf of the Gospel and Church of l Christ