CHRISTIANITY AND WAR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 522, 1 June 1909, Page 8

CHRISTIANITY AND WAR.

THE WORLD AS AH AHMED CAMP. • "The civilised world does not advance in a ; straight line, but seems to take a zigzag course like.that.of a drunken-man," said tho Rov. T. H. Sprott, preaching at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral on Sunday night. Humanity, ho wont on to say, had oscillated botwecn tho two poles of solidarity and socialism. In tho ancient world, and' in Europe till tho time of the Reformation, the social idea prevailed, generally speaking, both in Church and State. 'IV individual existed for tlie welfare of society, rather than society for tho welfare of. tho individual. Tho claims of tho family, nation, or tribe, were paramount. A change came with the Reformation, and since then the individual had become tho first consideration- Society was tJbon relegated to the position of a' sort of nightwatohman for tho protection of life and property. Those two things being made safe; the idea was to give tho individual the greatest possible amount of freedom. A similar movement took place in tho Church. At the present day, however, there were signs of another reaction. Peoplo were beginning to see that rampant individualism was intolerable ; it really meant "every man for himself' and tho devil take tho hindmost." This change was not ,na yet so apparent as'regards the Church, but the Cliristian ■ ideal of mankind as one great family or .brotherhood was again coming to tho front. But did not the present Bspcct of tho civiliscd world as au armed camp, and the enormous expenditure by rival nations on weapons'of destruction, give the lio to ibis ideal? Ho had nothing to say against arming for defenoo. Ho behoved the British race had its special contribution to make to tho wplfaio of mankind, and its extinction would therefore bo a serious loss to tho world ; but- tho samo thing applied to every other nation, for caoli had its contribution to make for the general good, and therefore a wanton attack by ono nation upon allot hor, or a wnr of aggression, would be an unspeakable crime and a negation of Christianity. Political scicnco admitted tJio evil of tho presont state of international affairs, but had so far failed to find a remedy. Was it not time that tho Christian peoples made a corious and determined effort to put an end to tho possibility of fratricidal strifo, and unite tho nations in ono great brotherhood P.