Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-30
BRITAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES

TO the Edtor OF the Evening Ledger.
Sr--I am shocked and panied beyond
measure at the rebelious tone of letters such
as that of Mr.. Dan McDermott, who clam
ors for the freedom of Ireland during these
times of stress when the pillars of our
Aaglo-Saxon civilization are rocking when
the valiant sons OF our empire are fighting
shoulder to shoulder for humanity democ.
racy and the rights of small nations happy
In the assurance that their interests are
being watched over by our patron. St
George, who, at the head of a battalion of
angels, held at bay the oncoming hordes
of Hun barbarians during the retreat of
our gallant Tommies from Mons. How can
Irishmen read Of the mighty deeds of our
warriors without feeling their hearts leap
with gratitude to the God who has so blessed
their country by placing 1t under the pro-
lection of the knightly hosts who at CALI
poll and ISut have proved themselves worthy
successors of the paladins who thrilled the
world with their soul-stirring exploits on
a hundred stricken fields from Fontenoy to
Majuba and from Colenso to Bunker Hill?
Let Mr.. McDermott and his deluded coln-
trymeu remember that we are all fellow
Britons, and members of the freest empire
the world has ever seen, and. that we are
allied by sacred covenant consecrated in
life and death with the group Of nations
who are fighting and suffering and dying
for the liberty of all the races of mankind:
and as we remember the imperial service to
which we, and the peoples associated with
us at this time, have been called, let us
concentrate our faculties and dedicate all
the energies of our soul to prayer IL
the men and women of our empire do not
pray in such times as these--when the reali-
ties of eternity are so clearly revealing
themselves among us - when will they
pray?
If we do not pray as a people intelli-
gently earnestly. and labor in prayer, we
shall fail In our high calling and trust-the
highest and most sublime that has ever
been intrusted to any people 1t should be
clearly understood (and in thought and
sentiment we must labor even painfully
until this truth becomes vivid and clear)
that, as Premier Asquith we'll said in Au-
gust, 1914, this is. first Of all, "a spiritual
conflict" I'VE wrestle not with flesh and
blood, but against principalities and
powers; against the rulers of the darkness
of this world against spiritual wickedness
in high places" and therefore "the weapons
of our warfare must not be (soley) carnal,
but spiritual" All self-renunciation, ali
thirst and hunger of soul, all the most
severe discipline of life and the most
sublime flights OF faith and hope will be
necessary in order that we may be equipped
with the whole armor of God" What a
lesson 1t Is to remember that this whole
armor" includes such difficult elements for
human nature as 'gentleness In victory
and patience In reverses," "perseyering
against all odds" and the assurance of vic
tory when appearances seem to tell only
of failures. as in France and Flanders the
ability to plod on amid discouragements
and bewildering perplexities; the God-giyer
ability, moment by moment, ''in dangers
otter. in watchings often. in weariness
often, to serve Him with quiet mind" the
miraculous tenacity which enables men TO
endure and TO serve as seeing Him who
10 invisible to live amid the tests of time
with a firm hold of the realities of eter-
nifty; to be able to fight the good fight
of faith against the enemy under the Ruise
of the present evil and at the same time
firmly to exclude hatred from the heart
and pray that It may please Thee to for
give our enemies. prosecutors and SANDER
ers, and to turn their hearts; and to pray
forgive US our trespasses as we forgiye
them who trespass against u.s."
Let US then 60 chserfully on our way.
Britons all. conqcious Of our awful respon.
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