A DAY OF HUMILIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 5

A DAY OF HUMILIATION

' ( Sir,—ln this our day of visitation, when our cup of joy is. brimming only to be dashed from our lips by the terror of mysterious and deadly epidemic, when we had bravely l)qrrie our sorrows for tho loved ones who-so heroically laid down their lives on tho battlefield, your correspondent, "C.Q.P.," writes in dolorous vein to let us know:—(1) That religion does not enter into epidemics; (2) that humiliation does not kill germs; (3) that he prefers'G. B. Shaw to the Bible; (4) that the Hebrew prophets deserve to bo forgotten; (5) that there are certain sects which believe that iho chalice cup may be passed from mouth to mouth in times of epidemic with impunity.

Now, I do not preteud to be a Biblical scholar, nor a highly religious person (I wish I were both), but iis one who in days gone by has seen something of the world and still keeps an outlook on its affairs, I beg you jvill afford me an op■portunity ot replying to "C.0.1 , .," the more so as I am quite sure that his statements «ind the callous, sneering tone in which he'makes them, will bring only sadness to sad hearts (sad enough in all conscience already) who read them this day. ■'

(1) What has brought out the wonderful response by our commnnity to the call to organise and help in grayling with the fell disease? Religion. Jvo matter how your correspondent may cavil, religion in its purest and highest form is at the'root of this manifestation of unselfishness, devotion, and self-sacrifice even to the death. Doctors,.. .nurses, teachers, compassionate and energetic men and women, also those grand fellows in khaki,, moving about or at their posts 6edately trying to do their bit. This sort of rjehaviour is exactly., the kind that the early Christian St. James writes about in his wonderful letter, "Tnio roligion is to vfeit tho fatherless and widows." . (2) The statement that humiliation does not kill germs is almost too trito to be worthy of notice. This I will say. I have known many men of the medical profession, but I ,ncver knew one who mocked at religion. On the contrary, I have heard many, assert that a patient ■possessing the temper and consolations of tho Christian religion has a far better chance of recovery than the patient who does not. (3) I can only refer "C.Q.P." to any master i» letters or philosophy to obtain his opinion as to tlio merits, literary and ethical, of the drama of, G. B. Shaw, and, say, that venerable drama given in the Book of Job. Would your correspondent himself make a patient comparison? ' (4) The eame authority might bo appealed to in respect to the Hebrew prophets. These vigorous and outspoken men dealt with a rougher civilisation than ours. Still, their words as they fall on our ears in these momentous times are not devoid of the Divine inspiration.

(5) Priests, ministers, and doctors—the men who above all other classes sea deeply into the workings of the human hear: —nre not fanatics, and their last counsel would be presumptuous interference with any of God's natural laws.. Only a miidman would set these laws at defiance, and I suppose the sect referred to lias tho merit of being a not very numerous ono.

By all means, when it can bo <lone, without risk, let us havo our day of humiliation—or Jet the spirit of such humiliation qualify our <ky of rejoicing and thanksgiving. Meantime, let every day be a. day of humiliation for our forgetfuluess of God, and prayer to tho saine Almighty Father that in His good p'rovidence ho would abate and remove this grievous sickness. "C.Q.P."" will retort it is of no use. But there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in his limited philosophy.

I cannot conclude without expressing regret that your correspondent shows eo little of that delicate, resorvo which even non-religious men show in days so solemn as these. I wish ho appruhouded the meaning of thoee pregnant voran, so full of hope and encouragement: "The peaco of God which pnssotli all understanding."—l am, etc.,

Sir,—Being at present in tho same mood as G. K. Chesterton when he was flftttered by an attack upon one of his volumes, the fact that a Mr. Harcus has seen fit to assail mo through your columns does nothing but provide mo with a little needed amusement. Surely every thinking man, whether Christian, Pagan, Agnostic, Atheist, or missionary, must have roalised by this period that there is much in his Book of Faith that is wholly absurd. After tho labours of. the super-infidel, Colonel Ingersoll, it was reasonable to suppose that the belief in the inspiration of tho Old Testament had been shattered. If even that arch-icono-clast failed to drive home the savagery, the utter brutality of tho Hebrew prophets, how shall I prosper? Iβ the Christian religion eo insecure 'at its foundations that it cannot bate a jioint and yet survive? Must men believe in Adam and .Eve that they may believe in Christ? . . . My note in The Dominion of November 22 was intended as a gentle protest against tho ravings of certain individuals who seemed to be convinced that a natural event could be checked by an "unnatural remedy, othfcrwjso that a day of prayer and humiliation of tho Hebrew Prophet kind would bring about the end of the epidemic. So onco we were told it only would bring about tbe end of the war, yet the end of the war. has come and the people are not more contrite. Now, there arc only two views which can bo taken of prayer—we may view it as an endeavour to change the intentions of God, or as a formal teitimony of our obedience to Him. iJut the former oaee (which applies in the present instance) supposes that the caprices of a limited intelligence can occasionally instruct the Creator of. the

world how to regulate the universe; and the latter a certain degree of servility analogous to the loyalty demanded, by earthly tyrants. Obedience, indeed, to quote' Shelly, is merely the pitiful and eowimfly egotism of him jvho tlimks that, he can do something bettor tliim .reason. . . .—I am, otc, [The above letter has-been very considerably curtailed. No .good ptirpoio can be served at the present time fay ij■renornl discussion en the efficacy 01 prayer; the Higher Criticism, or tho anti-Christian opinions of Nietzsche and lugersoll.] ■