THE CHURCH AND THE WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 June 1916, Page 2

THE CHURCH AND THE WAR.

(To £he luHUf • Sir.—l a reading the views of various representative churchmen, both hero and at home one notices a growing tendency io show that this war is one Christianity versus the unbeliever, or as a bishop stated, of "Christianity versus anti-Christ/' That is not true. It is a war <>f Oiiriatiians amonj tkoaiselves (Turkey excepted). It is true that Germane devote to science a great share of the time which other nations gi"> r e to religion. So do all our scientists, students of science, and others for that matter. Are they more savage than the average church-goer? I sub-f nnt they are more humane afi3 broadminded. The degree of gentleness or brutality is largely a question of race characteristics and the influence of leaders and their national ideals. Those who try to bhow that the loss of faith or of religion leads inevitably to brutality and bloodshed conveniently forget the Holy Inquisition, and the numberless millions ot men. women and children slaughtered all through hifitory in the name of faith and religion. One winders whether these wellmeaning people ever readi the Bible, with its appalling holocausts of the innocents, and whero the leaders of these buitcheriee wore leading Christian men. We have all read oi bishops during this war giving advice that would shame a Formosan head-hunter, and we know that the immense majority of religious leaders to-day on both sides -of the Allies and Germanio sides are giving | their solemn blessing to every prospective sanguinary battle. What t'artuffery. then, to speak of the godless brutality of unbelief. We have not read of Germany's religious leaders upbraiding their countrymen about Louvain. But Dr. Liebkneoht spoke fearlessly at great personal risk. The Kai.ser. his tire-eat-ing junkers, and the church-leaders wield, tho greatest power and are as one far the war. A powerful phalanx of Socialists are striving might and nm ; n against great odds against it. Andi the vocabulary of clericalism, and its zealots, is too poor to supply words bad enough to burl a.t them.

Germany and Austria are Christian nations, goaded to the fray by Christian bishops andi intensejtv religious Kaisers. Germany Tins had the' Bible taught in its schools for years. Each German soldier oairies on his Belt the words "Gott mit uns" (God with us) and be-

lieveo in. it. Germany has bad its thousands of cEurches, bishops, preachers, colleges for centuries to this day. Then, why Louivain? The question is not: Has science or Socialism failed? They ale young; the day of their power is in the future. Tho question which it 'in incumbent for everyone to asE in this grave hour is: Why has Christianity failedP—l aim, etc., FAIR PLAY.