Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-23
Letters to the Editor
A Christmas Peace Message
n the Editor Of the Evensno Public Ledger.

~ the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir-'Peace on Earth, Good VIII
Toward Men"--the Christmas mes
sage Of good cheer that rings the world
around at Yuletide. IL Is the message
OF the Prince of Peace. and as Peace
on Earth through Good VIII toward
mem It. becomes the key which will
unlock unto the world new era, lit
ing out of the slough into which 1t has
90 deeply fallen. 1t is only through
living the Christian life internationally,
as set forth by Him whose birth we
celebrate at this season each year, that
civilization can hope to progress or
even hold its own. 49,,
What does living the Christian lie
internationally involve? Simply TINS
that nations entertain the same relations
one toward another that individuals DO
In we'll ordered community. That we
are progressing toward this there can
be no doubt. Gun-toting is no longer
tolerated on the part Of individuals.
Enlightened society expects each man
to so deal with his ncighbors that there
will be no call for gun play. Differ
ence. of course. do occur, and for them
courts have been established. En-
lightencd society no longer tolerates
dueling. cities no longer fortfy against
each other. states live amicably with
ncighbor states and settle differences
by the orderly processes of law. For
one hundred years no soldiers or battIe.
ships have patrolled the 5000 miles
OF border between United States and
Canada. and though several occasions
for war have occurred which might nave
prccipitatcd conflict had armies been &C
hand. the contentious matters we're
settled peaccably without recourse to
force
Did you ever stop to thing Of the
entire absence Of suspicion toward our
northern neighbors? With armies pa
trolling both sides OF the border would
this be possible? A show of force Is
the breeder Of suspicious, and word
Of suspicion breathed into ready ears
spreads like oil, only awaiting the
touching Of a match to start con-
flagration.
We are too prone to dIsassociate in
ternational moral obligations from those
Of individuals. Christ's way Of life,
Individually and internationally, is the
same, but do we so consider IT. When
He said "Love your neghbor as your
self" He did not mean just the family
next door. He meant our international
God and the brotherhood of Man ex.
tend beyond the narrow confines Of
family and overcome the barriers of
race or nation, welding all into one
International family Of brothers.
Peace on Earth. Good Will Toward
Men is, therefore. a Christmas chal-
lenge to all peoples everywhere. II
presents a searching query as to whether
We are doing our part to bring 10 pass
this condition. Arc We individually
and as a nation cooperating with the
Prince of Peace to achieve this end :
Let us not sing OF peace this Christ
mas, unthinking, but let it spur US on
to do our bit. Let MS make Peace on
Earth through Good Will Toward All
Men and Nations the burden Of our
thoughts and carry with it IA resolve to
act as New Years resolution. The
furthering of the cause of peace is the
biggest job ahead for 1923.
WENDELL i. OLIVER.
Chairman. Publicity, Bucks County
Council for the Prevention of War.
Morrisville. Pa. December -. 1892