The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-07
The Church Sentiment and
The League of Nations
Nv REV. J. s. CHADWICK

1t is not without significance tnat
the church press of our country is well
nigh unanimous in it's Endorsement of
the peace treaty, and especially the
league of nations section of that docu-
ment. In so far as the political is
sues of the day are concerned, the
church papers, although usually con-
servative in dealing with such, mat
ters, win speak according to the po-
litical views of the editors and the
constituencies they represent. Many
such papers have been outspoken in
their opposition to policies of the pres
ent administration their editors, re-
publican in faith and convictions. have
not hesitated to oppose many of the
Wilson policies Today some of the
strongest advocates of the Wilson pol
icies and ideals in international af-
fairs are church papers north of Mason
and Dixon's line-papers whose editors
are of the republican faith.
Where churches have spoken, and
many have spoken, they have declared
in favor of the adoption of the league
of nations as written in the peace
treaty now before our Senate. The
opposition on the part of one bisnop
of the Methodist Episcopal church to
the treaty has been given an unusual
amount of publicity by the anti-ratifi-
cation press, and some have sought to
make it appear that this bishop rep
resented his churchs opinion as re-
CARDS that matter. No great amount
of publicity has been given to the ad-
dress issued by the bishops Of the
Methodist Episcopal church, the one
l. ,e-1,.- l'o.
of the 80 or more who refused to give
his vote to that address. The state
ment and the appeal issued by these
bishops said, in part:
THE bishops of the Methodist Epis-
copal church would express their in
tense interest in the proposed league
of nations. The time seems logical
one for the adoption of such a cove
nant-while the remembrance of the
worlds terrible sorrow is still poig-
nant. However. the war was waged
by the army of the United States On
documents that strongly advocated the
adoption of such an international
agreement; and we feel that good
faith with our soldiers, those who
have lived through the fearful strug-
gle and those who paid the utmost
price of their convictions and died for
our country and for the world de-
mands that we join with the other ma
tions in bringing in the era of arbi-
tration and peace.
1--WE rejoice that the discussion Of
the proposed constitution of the leagge
of nations is being lifted above a
partisan level: since we believe that an
issue so momentous for the whole
world should be treated in the broad
est spirit. We are glad that the ten
tative form of the agreement has been
before our people and has had such a
wide and cal ger consideration result
ing in various amendments. Without
doub: a document, dealing with so
many nations and such complex inter-
ests. could scarcely be put in perfect
order a first: and the actual working
of the league will probably discover
the need of later northumberland
as ir the case of the constitution of
the United States. But it is our most
earnest conviction that the time is at
hand for introducing this wonderful
experiment calling for high idealisrn
and demanding that the nations of the
world shall place upon themselves such
wise restraints as shall prevent haste
and give warning against all aggres-
sions of greed
eve feel that the league of nation.
is an advance toward the periei
prophesied by : the Hebrew prophet
when men should not 1earn-war' any
tempt III an international application
of the spirit and teaching of Jesus
Christ, the Prince of Peace As His
ministers and as citizens of our re-
public. we respectfully urge the Presi-
dent and Senate to adopt the cove
nant that We may &C operate with our
sister nations in preventing future
wars, with their inevitable devastu-
ton and their frightful waste of young
and promising life
ITO this good end the bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal church pledae
their constant prayer and their full
endeavor to cultivate both a national
and international spirit that shall
make the covenant more effective and
shall. under the guidance of God, ap-
point salvation for walls and bull
warks' over all the earth"
The men who sent out that state.
ment and appeal represent a church
(the Methodist church, North as we
commonly speak of it down here) thai
reports the largest membership of any
of the Protestant churches of the Uni.
ted States. That membership is large
~ in the north, and l doubt not thai
practically all of those men 9TH,
bishops). are of another political faitf
than that of President Wilson. Blu
they see in this question what some
at Washington have not been able tc
see-something bigger than a politi-
cal issue. Other churches through theil
leaders and by voice of conferences
conventions and assemblies, have Civ.
en- their Endorsement to the league OF