Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-08-29
WAR CHAPLAIN EoRs1ER'S,
LETTER TO HANNAH FOLKS

This war is making brothers of VI
all in the mn on struggle for ra'
tional freedom of the world. These
French people are getting to be very
dear to my heart for the fight they
are making for their country ane
their freedom; these British folk are
a nation of stolid, solid soldiers, who
loved peace more than wisdom-but
now eve the very women volunteer
for the danger zone and r here by
the thousands upon thousands to dc
noble duty in resisting the waves OF
barbarism. And, as n of the
Yankee soldiers said to me on July
1st here, we from the other side of
the ocean seem to gravitate to each
other with a wholly new spirit of
brotherhood. Out of all our adver-
sity, there is being born a new world
conscience, and, terrific as the birth
pangs may be, this war will create a
new spirit of respect and liberty in.
ternational. l only hope we have.
sense enough to use u final victory
as it should be used. Bolshevism can
never realize the hopes and the rights
of the masses. The coming order
must be reasonable, fair and demo-
cratic. 1t must leave less room for
the demagogue, more room for the
actual workers. Bolshevism has pro-
e an abortion. 1t paraded the high.
doctrine CT brotherhood and equality,
and when the masses grasped its:
hand for salvation, they found a clo-
e hoof. The mind Of a beast exist
ed where the voice of an angel led US
to expect something more human
than we had known. 1 say this be-
cause Bo]shevism had my sympathy
at n time, perhaps because l was
not in possession of the facts But
it really has been a most profound
disappointment to those who hoped
for something inspiring out of Rus.
disasters. Now the whole world
in it's desire for a rational peace turns
its eyes to barbaric Asia, under the
menace of an intelligent power, ca
pable of giving lessons in scientific
deviltry to Atilla and his very sue
cesor. You will think this a pretty
savage letter from one who for years
preached peace to you in your Han.
nah pulpit. But l have seen things
here. l tell you plainly France and
Great Britain are in the right in this
The United States is helping
to fight the fight all the time, When
on the first of July, on a Canadian
Hospital Field, l saw Old Glory burst
upon the free air of France, side by
side with the tri-color and the Union
Jack, l was convinced that three
great peoples had at last buried their
quarrels in great common duty.
And when the American base ball
team. licked our Canadian team to a
.standstill, we just took them inside
the Chaplain's tent and treated them
the best we could get. We We're;
all far away from home-very far
but we felt somehow that that" old
Yankee drawl was good enough for
the best Canadians could do to show
their good will on the First of July.
I see the King of England is to
pitch the first ball in the American
on the Fourth. Land sakes,
Mr.. Hay, what's a coming next! You
know from the past, that l haven't
had much sweat to spare for propa.
the king idea. But that looks
good to me. l can admire a streak
of sport in any nan am goi ng to
celebrate the Fourth with bells on for
it has assumed a bigger meaning for
the world. Long may our sons re-
spect that day! As a preacher, l
am not determined to get drunk or
anything like that. But, believe me,
my dear friend, will do anything else.
The hills of France will resound with
the message of the Republic of the
West rings to be rid of Kaisers and
Cars. Ten thousnd times are the
soldiers of that republic welcome
here. The night has been long; our
men have held the flag of freedom now
through weary months and its yet. un
sullied-never trailed in mud. Acc
now, fresh. strong and enthusi astic
your men are with US They shall be
worthy of their country. The Yankee.
shall make good! 1 see it in the fin.
enthusiasms and the independence O
their voice and eye. These me,
were NOT born to be anything but fire.
men! ~
And how is the old church gettin,
along? see by your list some of tn
boys l have numbered in the Sunda
School are here or coming. If / kno,
their addresses l will see. them all
Think If II Woo Ropnv McNiyap ox,o