Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-02-21
By KATHLEEN NORRIS

By KATHLEEN NORRIS
w IOMEN by the hundred
M write to me pathetic and
w bewildered letters about
the fearful wars that are rock
ing the world today. Most Of
them are praying women, and
they have been praying a long
time for peace; some Of them,
like myself, have been for twen-
ty years members of peace
organizations. Their faith has
been heavily tried during the
last eighteen months; they feel
that their fervent and incessant
prayers are unheard. ''Where
is God in all this horror?" they
ask. 'Why doesn't God help
us?"
''God," said the lovely mother
of a houseful of sons to me, on
the church steps last Sunday,
could stop all this overnight.
WHY DOESN'T HE?"
Personally, I don't see how any
thinking woman can ask this. As
well scratch q match, apply It to
curtains you have already soaked
in gasoline, and then wonder that
the house burns down. To rush
about then screaming, "Oh, God.
hear us! Put out this fire!" would
be nothing short Of blasphemy.
A Plan Never Tried.
A long time ago wise men. good
men, agreed that the world should
have . new plan. Enemies should
be forgiven; won by love rather
than hate. Evil should no longer
be overcome by evil, but evil should
be overcome by good.
Did they ever try this, among the
then scattered and weak tribes that
were the beginnings of the nations
of Europe? Never. Never once. They
always said just what good and wise
and Christ-professing men are say
ing today. well destroy this one
enemy and trample him into the
dust. And THEN well all live in
peace and harmony forever!"
II IS hundred years ago the law
Of love, brotherhood and forgiveness
had been observed, what would have
happened? Christian lands would
have been invaded by infidels, an
swer the histories promptly. Well,
1t b highly possible that bands OF
Asiatics might have penetrated into
central and southern Europe, and
attempted to foist their types of
civilization upon the harder and
more enlightened northern stocks.
For q generation or two they
might indeed have Influenced them.
Then the higher law that recognizes
love rs its root and reason would
have triumphed. The invaders
would have been absorbed, would
have been won to the new and mi
raculous creed.
Europe Eternal1y Warning.
But it wasn't the danger Of bar
barian invasion that began to de-
stroy Europe q thousand years ago
and that has been eating at her vi
tails ever since. Il wasn't the out
slider. It was the Christians them
selves, eternally warning. It was re-
Ngious wars, territorial wars, boun-
dary wars, family wars; one war for
% years. one for 100 years. 1t was
wars of Christians against innocent
If unconverted, alien races; it was
militaristic power, and militaristic
abuse, generation after generation.
Was there ever forgiveness, resti-
tuition, apology? Never. Among
these brothers-and all Of the Euro
pean nations are brothers, and the
same blood flows in al their veins.
was not the insolent reply Of Cain
rathes than the law Of Jesus Christ
made the International answer!
sAm I my brothers keeper?"
Dsane Sshsssea = hate.
We are being care1ualy schooled
n hate for everything German to-
Aay, because a one mad German
houos paintse Wh0 has been raised
- var and tamine. pestilence ana
6iane = poWoe. We forget that
anpoaa - 0eEmans an home )oy-
-. u1nnle-1pVlAg, lav-3oving peepoG
!. - l1enpk tAek - Eneupean civialnee
! -. - - iar1n11, ~ be0 ~
49,. - ~ II ka1n1ro1e e