New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-27
NOT PEACE, BUT A SWORD
An Exposition of the Christian View OF
Psci6sm in the Words of the Master

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The trumpet of your correspondent
Charles A. Eaton gives no uncertain souhd
in his letter published in your issue oil ",
day. 1t may be that even the pacihst VIII
prepare himself for battle. 1t IS good u
have brought into this discussion, so ooioiy
end so finely, the name Of one who Tor
Christendom at least is the supreme author
ity in all these matters and questions OF
war and peace. 1t is good to be shown SO
clearly that Jesus Christ is the very Pacihst
Of pacifsts, although not at all or anywlse
in the sense of our modern pacifism
One is always wondering how the pacihst
can be so greatly absorbed in his talk as to
be entirely unaware of the pitiful figure ne
cuts for the rest of US. Why is it? what
is the matter with him?
Ii is natural enough to want peace. We all
want it, and are willing to fight and die for
it, even though it comes only after we are
gone-whle the pacfst will do nothing but
talk That, indeed, is the only thing he can
do Did | say the only thing? forgot
There is another thing he can do, and that
is what he is doing. The old rifles and
swords and spears which his fathers used
when they fought for and won those pre-
cious things which make. our nations life
so prosperous, so comfortable, so pleasant,
so safe and secure as it is to-day-he takes
and beats those swords into ploughshares,
the spears into pruning hooks, makes the
bullets into bllets-doux with which to con-
front a ruthless power, without mercy or
pity, waiting to do for US what 1t ala Ior
peaceful, unoffendng Belgium
But not even content with this folly, the
pacifst goes further. He claims that the
Master of Christians is one of their mind
and party 1t is this which |, as a convinced
and conservative Christian, most seriously
and profoundly object to-
Such a contention is as false and no more
justifiable :han that of the German KAISER
and his "Gott nit Uns," as any man may
see for himself if he will but consult the
records He will find there the Masters cwn
indubitable words set down in black and
white: Think not that ! am come to send
peace on earth: | came not to send peace,
but sword. For | am come to set a man at
variance against his father, and the daugh-
ter against her mother and man
foes shall be they of his own household
Thus nexorably he puts the question OF
righteousness, justice and truth in such
way that there is no getting by it or around
it, If man will not take up his cross and
suffer and make sacrifice for these things,
that is, if a man thinks more of father or
mother or son or daughter than he does Of
these things, "he is not worthy, ne cannot
be my disciple"
Well, then, if the Master would not make
exception in favor of flial or even mother
love, will any one think that such love OF
country as consists in simply keeping it
out, of war, patriotism that either for
dread of pain or fear of bloodshed a pa
triotsm of that strange type which pro-
fesses to be too proud to fight" will in
any way exempt us from serving in the
cause of liberty, justice and humanity, or
render us immune from the charge Of pol
troonery to our race, of leze-maj esty 10 our
divine Lord and Master?
May | submit as bearing on this subject
what the Duke of Bedford said in a speech
made in 1894 before the House of Lords, in
reference to concluding a peace with France:
THE best road to peace, my lords, is war
and war carried on in the same manner as
we are taught to worship our Creator,
namely, with all our soul and with all our
mind and with all our heart and with all our
strength? JOHN A. BEVINGTON.
New York, Feb. 20, 1917.