PAN-GERMANISM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2322, 2 December 1914, Page 3

PAN-GERMANISM

THE AIMS OF THE KAISER SERMON BY REV. A; HOBDAY In the Vivian Street Baptist Church on Sunday the Rev. A. Hobday delivered a sermon entitled "Christianity v. Kaisorism," dealing with the present upheaval in Europe. In order to appreciate the meaning of the colossal conflict in -which the nation was engaged, said Mr. Hobday, it was necessary to go back upon first .causes. It was more than a collision of conflicting interests in the material sense. It was a clash of two utterly irreconcilable principles. The Poet Laureate went so far as to say that this was,a war "between Christ and the Devil." That statement sounded extravagant, but he thought that was a fact. It was a war between morality and militarism; between righteousness and heartless brutality; between civilisation and barbarism. For years now the Germans had been blessed, or rather cursed, with a coterie of writers, whose books were to us Britons so wildly and ridiculously boastful that we simply refused to take them seriously. They all struck the same note — Pan-Germanism, which meant that the Germans were the people, the elect of God, the darlings of fortune, the ar T biters of destiny, and the-fore-ordained and predetermined possessors of .tho earth. Britons thought it all delightfully amusing. But it meant that' PanGermanism saw visions, and dreamt dreams. Pan-Germanism meaut the absorption of every several race into the German race/, . Of course, continued Mr. Hobday, we simple folk thought it was all a rhetorical flourish. We said '.'Germany will know better when she is older." Others of us thought it was meant to be humorous, and assumed that the Germans, as a people, took it humorously. So much so that when far-seeing'men like the late Earl Roberts warned us that the thing was sinister we laughed him to scorn for his pains. One rude .awakening had been the fact that those impudent doctrines were not confined to a few cranks* or firebrands,, but were the views of almost the whole nation. The Germans' excessive pride of race became,' although we were blind to it, a menace to the peace of the world. But there was worse to follow. Arrogance was one thing. Did we, in our innocence, feel a pained surprise at the dirty and detestable methodo which were employed from the' very beginning of the war Did we think that Germany would be chivalrous and honourable? Listen to what Bernhardi said: "The prizes that fall into our hands must be reimorselessly destroyed.. By the use of mines we protect our'own shores, and make them dangerous to English vessels. _ An open fight on the sea with Britain is impossible. Our air fleet can drop explosives on tho enemy's ships. Nothing must be neglected which would injure the enemy."

But of course it was not to be supposed that the Kaiser would allow himself to be excelled.in anything, or by anyone—not oven in brutality, not even by the beloved Bernhardi. So lie entered the contest, and claimed first place for callousness. And truly, in justice, his claim could not be denied. In' a speech delivered to a division of troops going to the front, ho said, "Remember that the German people are the chosen of God. On me the spirit of God has desconded. 1 am His weapon, His sword, His viceregent. Woe to tho disobedient, death to cowards and unbelievers." That was said in July, 1900, to his troops going to Peking. And then followed this pious piffle, this disgusting blasphemy: "When you come into contact, with tho enemy, strike him down. Quarter is not to be given. AVhosoover falls into your hands is into your hands delivered. . Just -as 1000 years ago, the Huns, under their King Attila, _ made themselves a,name which still appears imposing in tradition, so may the Germans' name be known in China, in such a way that never again will a Chinaman dare to look askance at a German. The blessing, of the Lord'be with you. Give proof.of your courage, and the Divine blessing will be attached to your colours."

Proceeding, the preacher, asked could any man in his senses douht the nature, of the issues? The challenge which we had accepted was the challenge of might against right: of plutocracy aguinst democracy; of brutality against brotherhood; of barbarity.against civilisation; of merciless materialism against the elementary principles of Christian morality. He made uo apology for introducing the subject into the pulpit. The preacher who hesitated to utter his righteous protest against that colossal conspiracy was, in his judgment, recreant to his trust. Let them make no. mistake about it. Upon the result of the war hung hot only the question' of whether Germany was to become master of Europe, but also, and pre-eminently', whether the saiictities of life were- to be preserved, whether so'emn engagements were to be kept, whether- woman was to be respected, whether children were to be protected, and whether righteousness was to be revered, or whether, rather, if principles on which they had been born and reared were to be abandoned, whether the laws of morality were to be flung aside as worthless, whether love, justice, and honour wore to bo flung from their throne, and materialisation, militarism, and mercilessness crowned in their stead.