The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-11-17
paad at the Close of the General
Convention, Friday, October
81, 1916.

To the people OF this Ch,irch.
we, YOUR Bishops, give counsel IN
the name of Christ.
America is involved today i'll
vorld-wide confusion which finds
its most acute expression in the
l,attle-fields of Europe. No self
isolation on our part is possible.
The fortunes of the nations Of the
world are interviewer as the
threads of tapestry. To ignore
this fact is folly; to reckon with
j, frankly is to give due recogni-
ton to the fundamental unity OF
the human race and to hasten the
dawn of that day in which the ar
maments Of war shall be beaten
into the implements Of peace.
It was but a moment ago that
we were basking in the thought
that the human race was steadily
coming to recognize the communi-
tv of it's interests the world over
The crime today Of acting as 1t
this were not so is the greater be-
cause the doctrine Of brother
hood has progressed from a local
theory to a universal conviction.
Interests can never again be Sec
tional. The world is henceforth
one from north to south and from
east to west, for the time being in
A disturbed and suffering humani-
ty, in days to come in a unity
where order and health will reign
Here and "there'' are merely
terms of lifeless space. The long
est distance in the human brother.
hood is but from the head to the
feet of its quivering, sensitive
body. Sympathy reaching to the
ends of the earth is not the volun
tarv offering Of a few, but the hu
name obligation Of all. 1t is the
instructive thrill Of a fellow-feel
ing that rushes through the entir'
organism when single membe,
reioices or sufferers. Political ex
pediency may in wartime requir
neutrality Of the state, but it can
not hold in leash the sympathie
of the individual citizen. A MAJ
cannot be passionless and retain
his manhood. ''No heart is pur
that is not passionate, no virtu
safe that is not enthusiastic
The fact that our nation is nc
at war affords no ground to
smugness, much less for self aI
plause. 1t throws upon us tn
searching responsibility of exal
ing the true ideals of peace an
incorporating them into our n;
tional life. Nationalism too O
ten assumes the ugly role of grou
seIfshness or false patriotism. u
cal conditions determine VIII;
form this disease will take. Yo1
der it breaks forth in the scarf
rash Of war; here in unconsecrate
prosperity, which is bound
cause manhood to decay. The n
ton that in some quarters, for Il
sake Of gain, still chains to tt
wheels of industry the bodies al
souls Of her little children, tn
allows human life to be sacrific'
to the inventions Of speed al
production from lack Of cost
safeguards, that heeds but Iii
lessly the cry Of the poor and c
pressed, is not at peace ev
'hVuSH Sic UC uOC az ""A'
presently we aspire to act
peace makers in behalf Of the w
rlng nations on the ground tt
We are not caught in the mesl
OF the actual conflict, let our
plrations be tempered by the
lection that we are tainted w
the common disease Of which
eruption Of war is symptom,
cause. God hates goddess q
empty peace as much as He ha
i unrlghteous war. Let it be sa
SAID that, in proportion to
SWoolen wealth, as figures sh'
Americas contribution iowa
the alienation of innocent suf
erS IN Europe is the merest ]
lance. A few have given law
" even to the laying down Of tt
HVeS, many in due proportion