Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-24

Great Britain the movement mas
reached proportions which are truly
sensational.
Thus copies have just reached
here of a public statement made on
Amristice Day which is unique IN
the boldness of its approach to the
problems of moral improvement IN
the world. The signers OF 1t are
such men as the Earl of Athlone,
who is the uncle of the King OF
England and was formerly Governor
General of South Africa: Maj. Gen.
Sir Frederick Maurice, who is presl-
dent of the British Legion; Sir
Osmond Brock, who is admiral OF
the fleet, Viscount Fitzalan, who
was formerly Viceroy Of Ireland;
Lord Esme Howard, who used to
be British Ambassador to WASH
ington; Lord Rennell, formerly
British Ambassador to Rome. and
Ian Hay, author and playwright and
now director of public relations OF
the British War Office. The docu-
ment reads in part as follows:
Times of crisis make many turn
to God only to forget Him again
when the immediate danger is past.
Peace Battle Within Hearts.
1.-THE great issue that divides the
world underlies the more obvious
conflicts of party, class, Nation ana
theology. In the words OF a Leading
article in the Times of April IA,
Good and evil spirits are working
through mankind in every country.
and to this spiritual conflict all
political and social disputes are
subsidiary When the evil spirits
conquer then the collapse of private
and public morals sets in, the spirit
of discipline and sacrifice dies, Gull
ture grows sterile, science is mlsused
and patriotism is forgotten. The
battle for peace must be fought IN
the hearts of the individual and thus
throughout the community if it is to
be won in the world.
"Victory in this battle is the one
thing needful for the world in which
we live. 1t implies first of all a
change of heart. Experience has
proved that such a change can take
place and that it comes to those who
turn from judging others and their
systems to sense of their own faults
and a determination to live under
the guidance of God.
THE strength of a nation is shown
by the courage to admit her own
faults. The glory of nation IS to
have creative message for the
world. For this we need not only
inspired craftsmanship but daily in
spiration in every business, workshop
and home We must teach ourselves
to apply practically to our conduct
the Christian standards of honesty,
purity and love and to make fulfill
ment of the will of God the touch
stone of public and private life. In
this task all are privileged to give
the service of their lives.
Basis of National Life.
Moral rearmament must be the
foundation of national life as it must
be of any world settlement. The
miracle of Gods living spirit can
break the power of pride and selfish
ness; of lust, fear and hatred, for
spiritual power is the greatest force
In the world.
There are among all peoples to-
day hidden resources of heart, mind
and spirit waiting to be called out
by common obedience to the supreme
plan. Only in the fulfllment of this
supreme plan can the true interests
of all classes, races and states be
secured.
Throughout her long history this
country never failed, and has not
failed now to meet recurrent crises
with the courage which each de-
manded, but a spiritual crisis re-
mains and calls for action. The
nation and the empire must stand
or fall by our response to that call.
The choice is moral rearmament or
national decay. That choice will
decide whether ours is ultimately to
20 the way of the other dead king
doms or whether our commonwealth
led by God may become a leader
of the world toward sanity and
peace"
Echo Reaches America.
The foregoing message will be
echoed in America in different
phraseology, but in the same thought.
Already this very week the phrase
moral rearmament" was the theme
Of Herbert Hoover's address to a
meeting in Toronto, Canada. IRE
spective of political party, race or
creed, the growing Importance of
moral values in modern life is be-
ginning to be felt as something no
longer an abstraction just worth
expressing on solemn occasions, but
as concrete aspect of everyday
life. For in the regeneration of the
individual lies the key to the moral
regeneration of the city, the State
and the Nation.
copyright. 1889