THE PEACE CAMPAIGN

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 9, 1 October 1948, Page 2

THE PEACE CAMPAIGN

EDITOR'S LETTER BOX

Dear Editor, — it is refreshing and encouraging to read in the September “VV.K.' two whole columns advocating the claims oi Peace and urging the X.Z.W.C.T.U. to join with Sweden and numerous other countries in an organised constructive Peace Campaign, it is high time the women ot the world united to outlaw war. I believe they could if they would. Personally 1 was greatly disappointed with the silence of the Peace Department of the N.Z. Union during the recent war, which resulted in even the “White Ribbon" being constrained to support the un-Christ-like methods of war. In this 1 am afraid it only followed the sad example of the Churches, which, in peace umc. denounced war as contrary to the spirit of the teaching of Jesus Christ, hut on the outbreak of war did not refrain from bowing the knee tfc the god of war and battles. We sorely need to be reminded that Satan cannot cast out Satan, that evil can never be vanquished by evil methods. The method of war only adds tremendously to the total amount of sin and misery in the world. There is no short cut to the Kingdom of God; but we can further delay its coining on earth by our want of faith in the way of Jesus Christ, the way of forgiving love, the only way to vanquish evil. Love is the strongest thing in the world. "Love never faileth," though it may seem to for a time. W’e often hear people say the teaching of Jesus is idealistic and unpractical in an unchristian world. I would challenge them to read carefully through the Gospels and they will probably be surprised to find how much of His

teaching could not be put into practice in any but an unchristian world. Fits leaciung is tlie only practical way out ol Uie present chaos ol our world. Let us teed our hungry enemies, let us clothe them, let us cultivate friendships by correspondence w r ith as many as possible. Masses of the people ot Central Lurope are hungering and aching tor friendship, and ther response to overtures of friendly letters is pathetically thrilling. If any ol your readers would like addresses of people in Central Europe to whom to write, and care to communicate with me (address given below) ! could suppply them in a very short time from lists which are being continually added to, of persons desiring pen friends. 1 hopo I have not seemed to write merely in a spirit of criticism, for my only desire is to contribute helpfully towards a I’eace Campaign. Frobably members of t lie great women’s organisations would join in the effort if approached. And in all countries of the world are tv be found members of the War Resisters* International, who would gladly co-operate. The resolution put forward by Mrs. Akersson is an excellent one, and should appeal to women the world over. Let us support it in all sincerity, with all the means at our disposal, that our children and grandchildren may live in a world of love and brotherhood, knowing of war only as an obsolete horror of a dark age. I am, etc., MARY L. WELLS. Address: Mrs. Arnold Wells, “Mount Hope,” Mapua, Nelson.