The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-10-14
OLIVER EXPERIMENTATION
OF GOODWILL
Friends Peace Committee.

Even in the turbulent Balkans,
men are turning to understanding
and goodwill to settle the disputes
which centuries of war and prepare
ton for war have failed to solve.
Partly because the great counters in
the game of international politics,
and partly because the official church
has become little more than a formal
theatrical pageant, the people OF Jug
oslavia, Bulgaria, Roumania and
Greece have had history OF fear,
hatred and bloodshed.
Gradually, these four nations are
learning that they cannot hope to
continue to fear and fight each other
and still develop into prosperous,
happy countries. Bulgarians are be-
ginning to learn that patriotic Bull
garian can serve his country better
by promoting friendship with Jugo-
slavia than by preaching hatred of
Jugoslavia. This lesson takes time,
ward friendship and understanding
among the nations of the Balkan
Peninsula.
Oliver Dryer, the man who is
among the most active teachers OF
this lesson of friendship and under.
standing, is now visiting the United
States. He is a Scotchman, short
dark, lean, with black hair His
nose is Roman, suggesting energy
and organizing ability. His eyes
are the eyes of mystic whose faith
n God enables him to meet all men
on terms of human brotherhood
| His faith in human nature is rarely
betrayed.
Oliver Dryer is secretary of the
International Fellowship OF Recon.
citation, relatively small body OF
| people, including representatives OF
some fifty countries, who are united
~ the faith that the essential teach.
ngs of Jesus Christ offer way OF
life which makes war against Other
| peoples impossible, hate unthinkable
and fear unnecessary. They cannot
| axe part in war, but they are doing
| everything in their power to prevent
war, by overcoming the fear anc
hatred which causes war, and help
.ng nations to understand and re
| ;pect one another.
| AS an outsider, with no official
position and no selfish interest to
| promote, Mr.. Dryer finds that he is
| able to reach the human being with.
IN the official. For example, in
1925, following bomb outrage in
| he cathedral at Sofiae which put all
Bulgaria under martial law, MIR
Dryer arrived to meet some OF his
| friends and arrange some punlic
| meetings. Until his arrival, he was
| entirely ignorant of the situation
| He was, of course, unable to hold
meetings.
| He went at once to General Lao
tiff, the military governor OF Sofia
some preliminary talk about the
generals distinguished record in The
service of his country led naturally
% :. discussion of whether it woEIt
oe possible to prevent war. From
his Mr.. Dryer went on to express
lis conception of the religion of
Jesus as showing men OF all races
how to live in peace and mutual con-
would profit if it could get on such
erms with it's nelghbors After
listening Infently, General Lazoriff
said, you may hold meetings in
Sofia, and in every other town in
Bulgaria.
1t is useless to harangue people in
he Balkans about the beauty OF
peace. There is no dispute about
hat. The sections of the Fellow
| ship of Reconciliation in Jugoslavia,
Bulgaria, Roumania and Greece are
lot interested in peace, in the alb
'tract. They are working to pro-
| note peace with their neighbors,
peace between Bulgaria and Greece;
| friendship between Bulgaria and
Roumania; respect between Bulgaria
and Jugoslavia. They spread know
ledge of the other countries by ar
| ranging visits of students, of teach
| srs, of business men.
They promote confidence by en-
leavoring to secure fair treatment
! Of Bulgarians who are in Jugoslavia
Or Roumanians who are in Bulgaria
Is result of the accidents of map
making after the Great War.
Oliver Dryer and his associates
ire unofficial ambassadors, spread
ing understanding and confidence
among nations whose history shows
that hatred and fear can only bring
'uin; who must learn to live on
.erms of friendship with their neigh
oors if they are to live at all.