Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-03-05
SOUND ADVICE.

rable work in its efforts to keep our coun-
try out of war. Nothing more sane and
patriotic has appeared since the Euro
pean war began than its letter to the
clergy and churches of America, which we
quote below. cautioning them against par
tlsanship in discussing the war.
This organization is composed of clergy
men and laymen of all denominations, in
Guiding Jews; and the letter is signed by
Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Glennon
OF the Catholic Church, Bishops Greer and
Lawrence of the Episcopal Church. Rabbi
Hirsh and many other prominent divines
of all denominations. 1t is worthy of wide
dissemination and should carry great
weight. 1t says:
"Partisanship is adding fuel to fires of
passion which already are too hot Clergy
men should allay prejudice, not intensity
it. Each of the warning nations believes
in the justice Of its cause. Their disputes
are Of long standing, involve all the gov
ernments concerned, and their full History
is yet to be written. In such period Of
snch tense feeling it is not easy to unrayel
the tangled skein of motives and events
1t is grievous thing that there is war
between peoples whom we respect and
count our friends. In this calamitous hour
denunciation of either side assumes
superhuman knowledge of complex poll
cies and purposes. imperils the influence
OF our Government in promoting peace
aggravates a quarrel which we should
help abate, creates dissensions among our
own people, inflames a war spirit in
America and gives force to the criticism
that the Church has abdicated its ored
functions as the maker of peace am con
cord.
We should realize not only tina each
OF the warning nations has hel1o %
create the conditions of which the war is
tragic expression but that these vvnul-
tons characterize Americans as well as
Europeans. We are quite as belligerent in
temper as other men. We should con-
denim the causes of war, but we should look
for them not so much in state papers as
in the fears. prejudices and rivalries which
are common to men everywhere except as
they are influenced by the divine spirit.
Our own freedom from militarism has
been due to protecting oceans rather than
to superior virtue. The present clamor
Tor an armament to resist possible attack
is prompted, not by peril, but by the dis
position to echo on our side of the sea the
cries which have been heard in Europe for
years. and it is engendering the same
suspicious that have wrecked the relations
OF Germany and Great Britain. Are we to
repeat the policy which is drenchine the
Continent with blood2 This is the time to
prepare. not for war. but for peace.
"Materialistic civilization has developed
mind and energy rather than conscience.
The peoples whose universities are the
greatest. whose statesmen and philosophers
the most famous, whose industrial achieve
ments the most advanced. whose armies
and navies the most Colossal, are the very
ones that are fighting. Modern science has
equipped race hatred with deadlier weap-
ons and thus increased its power for ruin
A world order built up by secular education
and dependent on force has collapsed
Christianity has not failed, but nation:
have failed to be Christian.
IF nations fear and hate one another
they will fight whether they annually ado
one or a dozen battleships to their navy o.
1000 or 100000 men to their army
The Golden Rule must be made effective
in international intercourse. This is tn,
urgent duty Of the churches. and American
churches now have free opportunity t,
speak They should be the channel through
which the grace of God can become opera
tive. They should make clear the distinc
ton between the teachings Of Jesus AM
so-called modern civilization, cease bap
tizing national pride and selfshness witt
the name Of patriotism, put forth create
effort to make the divine spirit leaven al
human relationships and proclaim the mis-
sionary message of International Christi
anity. of altruistic ministries to other peo
pie, Of God as the universal Father instea
of a national diety. of the unity of tn
human race, of religion as the power @
God unto salvation and the antithesis Q
aggression and brute force"