The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-11-02
WARNS AMERICA
AGAINST DANGER
EPISCOPAL LETTER SPEAKS OF
UGLY ROLE OF sELFlsHNEss.
IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL LIFE
Declares Our So-calIed Peace Gives
Us No Ground For Smugness-
Human Interests After War
Never Be Sectional.

st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 28.-|Warning
Americans against the danger OF
race antipathy flaming in hatred"
and against "unconsecrated prosperity
which is bound to cause manhood to
decay" the pastoral letter of the Pro
testant Episcopal church was read al
the final joint session of the. triennial
convention here.
The letter Is the message of the lOS
bishops of the church to its commun-
icants and, under the law of the
church, will be read in every Episco-
tipalian church, in the country.
@" Unlike most pastoral letters it
dealt with secular rather than eccle-
siastical affairs. 1t reviewed condi-
tions in the United States and Europe
and in the orient and pointed out to
this country the threat that fingers
in a nationalism which assumes 'the
ugly, role of group selfishness or false
patriotism" :.
, ..r Minimize "YeiIow Peril"
Whatever dangers may lie lurking
beyond our western horizon" IT as
Eerted, can surely be averted by
spirit of justi, which has not always
prevailed in our dealings with the orr
ent."
Members of the church were ad-
monished to "sanctify their wealth by
offering freely Of their substance to
Gods cause" it being added that the
wounds of Armenia, Poland and Bel.
GUM still lie gaping to the sky and
offer their dumb appeal to God and
man." The letter in part follows
America is involved today in
worldwide confusion which finds its
most acute expression in the battle
fields of Europe. No self-isolation
on our part is possible. The for
tunes of the nations are interviewer
as the threads of tapestry.
Boundaries to Disappear. 49,
- 4 Interest car never again be sec,
tional The world is henceforth one,
for the time being in a disturbed and
suffering unity, in days to come in
reign. Here and there are merely
terms of lifeless space. The longest
distance in the human brotherhood is
but from the head to the feet of a
quivering, sensitive body. Political
eXpediency may in war time require
neutrality of the state but it cannot
hold in leash the sympathies of the
individual citizen. A man cannot
be passionless and retain his man.
hood.
THE fact that our nation is not at
war affords no grounds for smugness.
1t throws upon us the searching re-
sponsibility of exalting the true
ideals of peace and incorporating them
in our national life. Nationalism too
often assumes the ugly role of group
selfishness or false patriotism. Local
conditions determine what form this
disease VIII take. Yonder 1t breaks
forth In the scarlet rash of war; here
in unconsecrated prosperity, which is
bound to cause manhood to decay.
Our Own Shortcomings.
lc IudI III SOIlt
for the sage of gain, still chains to
the wheels of industry the bodies and
/, SOULS of her little children, that al
lows human ife to be sacrificed to the |
inventions of speed and production
from lack of costly safeguards, that |
heeds but listlessly the cry of the |
poor and oppressed, is not at peace,
even though she be not at war. If |
presently we aspire to act as peace |
makers in behalf of the warning ma
tions, let our aspirations be tempered |
by the reflection that we are tainted |
with the common disease of which the |
eruption of war is a symptom, not a
cause. God hates a causeless and !
empty peace as much as he hates an
unrighteous war.
America Gives Mere Pittance.
Let 1t be sadly said that In pro-
portion to her swollen wealth, Amer
ica's contribution to the innocent suf-
ferers in Europe is the merest pit
lance. A few have given lavishly, even
to laying down their lives, many in
due proportion to their substance the
vast majority little or nothing. II
America comes out of the world dis
order richer in purse and poorer in
manhood, she will bring upon herself
the penalty of debased life or even
of losing her very soul.
mo nation, least of all so vast and
diversified one as ours, is justified
In trusting to chance for the creation
of her national character. She must
expect Of everyone of her citizens
some true form of national service,
rendered according to the capacity of
each. National preparedness is
clear duty. II this service assumes
the form Of military defense such can
easily become a menace and will
surely fall short of pacific effect un.
less all the r~odnctive fo-~ar 20 49, !
hood are at the same moment shaped
into social order. The Gully thorough |
is that exJmplified by !
Christ the preparedness of character |
/.