WAR AND PEACE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 577, 4 August 1909, Page 9

WAR AND PEACE.

Sir,—ln your leader of,.July -10 on the? above your quote Bishop Wallis as saying: "As clergym<fh, it is clearly our duty to teach that a'd-eniro. for pcaco which is based upon an unwillingness to mako sacrifices ia contrary to the. first principles of .the Gospel of.',.Christ." - lii - reviewing'.. this statement you ,say: "This, is not only sound doctrine, but' round politic:." . Will you kindly permit me to say that it in, from tho standpoint of Christianity, neither "round doctrine nor sound politics." You say: "It io t-lio political aspect of tho question that interests us"; but in quoting Bishop Wallis you ovidently intended, .to . combine both and make his, ipso dixit final from tho. Christian standpoint.' If you said that the bishop's statement "is round churchmaiiship" con-troversy-Would be useless.' but when ho inrolvcarthe "Gospel-'of Clirist'-i in a questionable procedure his opinion requires investigation. ."Sacrifices are perfectly -consi'stentj with tho :first .principles of the Gospel of Christ.'.'.'But in what way? Inthe. way intended!by.Bishpp',Wallis?. Certainly not. He. is .referring:to-tho question of war, and : that saorifices.'in furtherance of .war are consistent.,with - "the. first principles of the Gospel of- Christ!"' What are the first prin- | tiiples?--Bishop Wallis knows that a sac-ri- ' fioo in order to kill,men-is-distinctly subver-. sivo of , the Gospel of Christ.- That not,only is 'it ,oontrary .to His principles, but . de-: bidedly antagonistic. Nowhere in; a jingle instanco . does., the. Saviopr : sanction suchsacrifice! "I will have mercy and not sacrifice"' is' His-dictum.'.- Jesu3 commends sacrifice, but always in the interests of peace, ' and Bishop Wallis ought to know that not a single expression of Jesus Christ . can be quoted in favour of. national war. i- "He came to save men," not to kill. Every "sintimenf of"the "Founder "of " Christianity . is' along thfc linos of' sacrifice for others. ; -But is- war consistent with this? Is ;it>not that : tho makers of- war do not EaorifioeP - ':'They make- tho- other fellow do that. 'How many wars would we have if the principals, had, to; fight?' They 'are rievfcr . lound.on the "sacrificing" or -firing-line. If: there::wero'a : possibility of this, then, jiot> Withstanding'your dictum, '"that we are'not. within ; measurable :distance of a day . when war;willibecome;athing .impossible," it would happen that-sudden that : your breath would. J)o taken away in-, indignant 'surprise. '■] I makc'r.o excuse for. my apparent temerity in'cxmtroverting Bishop Wallis in -this .matter!:;: You---'say.-"that ; in '.New.Zealand there is-a. special need.for'sermons upon the' 1 importance,-of (national'.'sacrifice," 'and ; you' oom'niend the i for !taking_ tho_ initio-- , tive. : .'This-,is .my reason'for'questioning tho . bishop,;arid not <you.> -With vour permission I will,'.-later on, disagree, with you from tho "politibal aspect.'- 1 am; at'one with' you in ro the necessity of. "national sacrifice,"; but when-.a .dignitary, ,of ;the Church of England oobly. -involves: the/ principles of 'tho Princo of: Peace in the brutalities.of. war it is time. - some Christian 'protested. .. .Not ; only arc the principlesof' ; Christ against: war,';; but. they 1 absolutely/,ihpulMte thcr opposite, .'..They !do jiot.j permit of I sa(3nficß>in '.ordcr ~to:tho. shedding of;,blood,but theyineite to." sacrifico, in, its prevention,, and I rospcctfnlly ask-Bishop. rWallis for a/passage in' support of his - con-, .tention., '- v : •)> ■' ■ : . I do not .ask .this of you, Mr., Editor, becawo' it would ;be placing you. at; a disadvantage,: but 1 , surtly'tho-bishop can :citp some, -te&3.'^'hicl;. : ( will r '■ justify- hiin at'the bair. of. ' Jesus! Clirist', for thie'i shedding , of ■'' human; blsod. ; My Bible tells me .'that, the .carrying oui of ,the "principles' of "Christ"...frill 'cause the' '"beating of 'our-'swords "into ploughshares; ' 'and our spears .into pruning- ■ hooksYiatiori shall not lift up sword against nation,' neither shall they learn war aiiy 'more.", -This is somewhat different , to' Bishop Wallic's version.—l .am, etc;, •'; JOHN G. PHICE. Motuek'a, July 29, 1909. :