The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-04-01

would not join in II through its appointed rep
resentatives. And the vast conference thus
convened would not end in smoke. ~ the
outcome OF IL there might be a tribunal estsb
lished more authoritative and effective than
that Of The Hague. TO say no more. Perhaps
we should get even further than that In. shall
We say. the direction OF adjusting our religious
differences too and uuifying civilization once
more on that basis
Why not? The like has been done before
aot so thoroughly perhaps. but to a large ex
sent. We owe the mitigation of the horrors
OF modern warfare to it, 1t was church coun.
ellis in the tenth century that forbade the
spoliation ard maltreaiment of non-combat
ants. And who has not heard OF the Truce o.
God throughout the Middle Ages. whereby hos
tlities were limited to what was practically
about three months In the year?
There was 70 be no lighting from wednes.
day evening 10 Monday morning In any ono
week. and there were special seasons. such as
Lent when there TO be none at all. Think
of that today We have lost in some ways IL
have gained In others by our boosted ma
ierial advance in the past few generations.
When was en- Rome in the early Spring OF
1914 ! discussed the above subject with spe
with a highly placed dignitary OF the PapaI
Court. and found him not unsympathetic but
more than doubtful of success until a big war
had taken place. lie might have foreseen
what was coming. truly did he describe the
terrible situation in which We find ourselves
at this moment
Governments would not listen TO any such
representation. he said. even II backed by the
SURFACES of all the Christian societies on
earth. until the arbtrament OF brute force had
been tried once more. They have not been
pilins up ornaments all these years for moth
ins, and the explosion must soon come.
Moreover. he added. this is the outcome
OF the false ideals by which the nations have
been living Politics are non-moral. Con.
science j. LEFT out OF them. The very men
who in their private lives are amiable and ex
empiary will. the moment they enter the bu
reau from which they exercise their functions
as statesmen, diyest themselves Of all scruples
and behave without consideration for any.
thing but the material interests OF the partic.
ular country they happen TO serve. II is all
very sordid and very grievous: and there IS
a period OF great tribulation ahead OF us. AZ.
ter that perhaps something may be done on
the lines you suggest. The Holy Father would
take the FIRST opportunity he could find il he
saw ans good likely to come of it."
was sorry 10 hear his final word There
could be no committee he declared II the
Pope acted al all he would act as head Of the
Catholic Church, and that only. But there is
no reason why what he was about TO do should
not be made known unonicially to the chief
authorities OF the various historic Protestant
scots and let them be IN readiness 10 support
a. Action would then be simultaneous when
80 came. and do all that IL wanted
NO % would not. We want something bet.
ter than that We want the deliberate and
sustained cooperation OF all who count them.
selves followers OF the Prince Of Peace. Shall
$50 ever get IL?