LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I SHOULD THE CLERCY FICHT? Sir,—Your leador on Saturday, February 27 suggests a much larger question: Should Christians fight P What did Christ mean when Ho said, "Blessed are the meok, for they shall inherit the earth"? Does the adoption of un-Christian methods by your opponent justify you in tho adoption of such methods'? Is not war itself anti-Chris-tian? If war is sometimes Christian, and the present bo one. of the times, is it correct that the Christians' leaders should (in so far as they are physically and mentally able), be the leaders iu battle? Would not the priest who celebrated Mass after the battlo have been putting his faith into practice had he colebrated Mass before the battlo, with a special intercession "That God. might opeu the eyes of the enemy, and that he (the enemy), seeing the right way, might have the strength and courage to follow, it? . Is it possible for anyone to keep in mind—with a determination to practice—the teachings of Christ whilst fixing his bayonet for a charge ? The rifle at Holy Communion does seem out of place. What did ono of our leading statesmen mean when he said at 1 the Wellington Town Hall meeting on February 19 last: "None of us can say what will be the future of the. country. We are all filled with the belief that success will be with the Allies, and not with the Germans, Austrians, and Turks. If it were otherwise, I believe it.would cause us to believe that He who rules over all of us. Who is all-seeing and all-wise, preferred to be behind those who were guilty of such murders and atrocities as they are answerable for." What did he mean?

God is love How much love is there.in a bayonet charge? How many recruits are drawn into the fighting line by love? -Is it for love of'the Germans that we are now at war with them?

At our church on Sundays we sing, "Let God arise and lead forth those who march' to war." I cannot imagine a God of Love leading anyone to. war. Again' we sing, "Be with us now who draw the sword for war again," There is no love behind a drawn Bword. Yet worst of all we sing, "Fight Thou for us that -we may fill Thy oourts with praise." . Does, this presume that ,we will not "fill His courts with praise" unless He does fight for us, or does it mean that He will fight for us so that we may fill His courts with praise?

Among the notices, the following is given:—"On Thursday morning there will be an 'intercession for the war.'" Would not an "intercession for peace" be more correct?

The Bishop of Auckland is reported! to have said that "he would be sorry if peace was declared now." Surely it is not Christian to humiliate your enemy. "Love your enemies. Do good to those that hate you," are two of the first Christian principles. Does the Christian law apply to the nation as to the individual? ' Christ came with a Gospel of Peace. Has . that Gospel been subject to a moratorium for the time being?—l am, etc.,. ... • SOCRATUS.