Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-10
We Must Haze o. Religious
World or o. RUGned World


uniform and inviolable morality for
all mankind. Is there any religion
but christianity that can by any
possibility become universal? Is any
standard OF morality except that
OF the Ten Commandments and the
Sermon Oh the Mount nigh enough
10 command the universal obedience
OF mankInd2 10 ask these questions
Is TO answer them.
IL is thus clear that the promotion of
universal peace is entirely dependent
upon the progress OF christianity. only
the Prince Oh Peace can command peace
on earth ana goou viii among men. Ii
The nations VIII not hear his voice, and
at his bidding dwell together in brother
uness, no oIner power can restrain their
nerce passions ana hush forever the
marsh voice OF war.
When the war in Europe is passeu.
there will be a general rerranse-
ment OF the political powers in Eu-
rope and that Encouragement
Will influence the nations OF
all other parts OF the world. 1t
would not De a strange thing If III
a few years the populous nations of
the Orient should be arrayed against
the less populous nations Of the
western world. such a conflict
would be the center of such a war.
We have recently seen hints Of
discussions of questions with Orien-
tai powers which are to be had after
the war in Europe ends. Who can
forecast what may be the conse-
quenees of those discussions? And
in those discussions what stand
ards OF morality and national right
eOusness will be the standards of
final appeal? Will Confucian
ethics or christian ethics be held by
the disputants as the inviolable law
of righteousness?
In view of such possibilities il is of
the last Importance that christianity be
rapidly spread to the Orient and that
IL be genuinely practiced by our people.
Otherwise We must be prepared for the
worst results both at home and abroad.
No increase of power. nor accumula-
tion of resources, can safeguard us. In
truth when power outgrows conscience.
dangerous conditions always arise. 1t
is TO this truth that Viscount Bryce
alludes when he says wars will become
more terrible with the "unceasing adj
vantage OF science" What terrible
agents of warfare has science brought to
pass and employed in the war now rag
ing in Europe? Such engines of destruc-
ton were never before employed in
any of the wars that have stained the
pages of history, and these instruments
OF destruction have been the creation of
modern science.
Some have been ready to say that
il is most surprising that the war in
Europe should have occurred in the
Twentieth Century; but this is
mistaken view. 1t is just such a
war as might have been reasonably
expected in the Twentieth Century.
In fact, it could not have occurred
in any other Century. During the
last fifty years science has made i'm
mense advances, and the inventions
OF science have increased the wealth,
and the increase of wealth has low
cred the moral standards of man
kind Thus the temptations to war
have been multiplied, while the re-
straints of conscience have been
enfeebled. The outcome has been
a perfectly natural result from the
forces which have been operating
among the nations of Europe for
years past.
Take Germany for example A type
OF education has prevailed there which
has tended to enfeeble religion and in
crease the power Of the nation. In the
German universities rationalism has pre-
vailed. and il has blighted faith and
lowered standards of morality and pre-
pared the way for trampling under foot
solemn treaties as mere scraps of pa
per" But while this process of demor-
alization has been going on, German
scientists have been devising means by
which German power has been increased,
and German resources augmented. Hence
national SEPARATIONS and ambitions have
arisen which have not been restrained
by the highest morality. and behold the
awful outcome,
Nor have the opposing powers of the
Allies been far behind the Germans in
these matters. They, too, have culti-
waited the things which make for wealth
and power more than they have nourish-
ed the forces which make for truth and
righteousness. The blame for the hor-
rible conflict cannot be laid exclusively
upon the belligerents of either side. All
have sinned and have come short of the
righteousness of God.
And let not the people Of the
United States think that they are
better than "our kin across the
sea- We are not without sin.
We regard power with more es-
TEEN than we regard principle, and
our Generalization must continue in
i the same evil direction unless we