Widnes Examiner. — 1895-05-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ONE INTEHESTED.  --THE ARMENIAN ATROCITIES.—POWERFUL SERMON BY THE REV. JOHN YONGE. Sir,—l own lam not much of a believer in the productions of the modern pulpit, delivered, as they generally are, by the help of notes on scraps of paper and manuscripts. The prominent way, however, in which you invited attention to the one in question induced me to read your report of it. I dare not, of course, question your editorial wisdom in describing it as a "poweiful sermon,"but I must humbly confess thatl it appeared to my uninipated mind more like a politica disquisition than a sermon. This, however, would be due to my infirmity in such matters. The sermon was admirably adapted to the introduction of the memorial which the good people of Wycliffe and their pastor were about to forward to the Foreign Secretary anent the atrocities in Armenia. I must, however, qualify my praise by saying that I had an uncomf )rtable suspicion that both the sermon and the memorial were tainted, to some extent, by the bellicose spirit of the destroyer of the works of God. I thought I detected in both documents phrases that might be construed to mean that, peaceful measures failing, the good pastor of Wycliffe and his followers would be prepared to sanction and encourage the application of the machine gun and the bayonet to drive the Turks," bag and baggage,"out ' of Europe.lf such a spirit as this occupies a corner in the Christianity of Wycliffe chapel I am sorry ; such a spirit has absolutely no place in the Christianity of Christ. That meek and lowly One enjoined his disciples to love their enemies. to do good to them that hated them, and to pray tor those who persecuted them ; and his whole life was a practical carrying out ef this blessed teaching. When he was reviled he reviled not again, and the awful atrocity of his cruel death by the Roman soldiers and his own countrymen only brought from his dying lips the touching prayer, brimful of love and tenderness for his enemies." Father, forgive them for they know not what  they do." Armenia is a long way off, and it is not in human nature to feel very keenly for wrongs we cannot see. But are there not many wrongs and mach suffering at home that call loudly for the prayers and efforts of all who love their fellow men. At the present moment many thousands, if not millions, of our fellow countrymen and their families are trembling on the verge of starvation through circumstances over which they have no control. As I have not seen any big posters or press reports of their alms-doing for the oppressed and suffering people I suppose I may infer that the pastor of Wycliffe and his people have not felt called upon to interest themselves in the matter. Mr. Yonge's reference toMr. Gladstone was rather an unfortunate one. That distinguished Liberal patriot during his long tenure of office involved this country in an enormousless of blood and treasure, and even his admirers will hardly venture to say that his wars were always waged on behalf of the oppressed. The last campaign in Egypt, may, I think, be taken as a not unfair ' sample of the commercial and aggressive spirit which distinguished some of them at least. The wholesale slaughter of brave men badly armed and without discipline by the deadly weapons of well-trained Christian soldiers, was not inflicted because they had committed atrocities upon other people. No,Alesandria was burned by English shells, and thousands of the Egyptian people murdered in that campaign because Mr. Gladstone and his Cabinet would have it so in the intereAs of British and F6rfitig,nl money lenders !—Yeurs truly, PEaCE AT