FullReads

I saw, from my post of observation in Holland, the hosts of heathen Germany massing for their attack on the world’s peace in the spring of 1914. Long before the pretext of war was provided by the murder of the Austrian Crown-Prince in Serajevo, I saw the troops, the artillery, the mountains of ammunition, assembled at Aix-la-Chapelle and Trier, ready for the invasion of neutral Belgium and Luxembourg, and the foul stroke at France.

Every civilized nation in Europe desired peace and pleaded for it. Little Servia offered to go before the Court of Arbitration at The Hague and be tried for the offense of which she was accused. Russia, Italy, France and England entreated Germany not to make war, but to submit the dispute to judicial settlement, to a righteous decision by a conference of powers. But Germany said no. She had prepared for war, she wanted war, she got war. And now she must abide by the result of her choice.

I have seen also with my own eyes the horrors wrought by Germany in her conduct of the war in Belgium and Northern France. Words fail me to describe them. Childhood has been crucified, womanhood outraged, civilization trampled in the dust. The nations and the men who took arms against these deviltries were the servants of the righteous God and the followers of the merciful Christ.

He told us, “If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn unto him the left also.” But never did He tell us to abandon the bodies and the lives of our women and children to the outrage of beasts in human form. On the contrary, He said to His disciples, in His parting discourse, “He that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one.”

Does any silly pacifist say that means a spiritual sword? No. You could get that without selling your garment. It means a real sword,–as real as the purse and the scrip which Christ told His followers to carry with them. It means the power of arms dedicated to the service of righteousness without which the world can never be safe for peace.

Here, then, we may stand on the Word of God, on the work of righteousness in making the world safe for peace. Let me tell you of my faith that every one who has given his life for that cause, has entered into eternal rest.

II. Come we now to consider the second part of the text: “the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”

What shall be the nature of the peace to be concluded after our victory in this righteous war?

Here we have to oppose the demands of the bloodthirsty civilians. They ask that German towns should endure the same sufferings which have been inflicted on the towns of Belgium and Northern France. Let me say frankly that I do not believe you could persuade our officers to order such atrocities, or our soldiers to obey such orders. Read the order which one of the noble warriors of France, General Petain, issued to his men:

“To-morrow, in order to better dictate peace, you are
going to carry your arms as far as the Rhine. Into
that land of Alsace-Lorraine that is so dear to us,
you will march as liberators. You will go further;
all the way into Germany to occupy lands which are
the necessary guarantees for just reparation.

“France has suffered in her ravaged fields and in
her ruined villages. The freed provinces have had to
submit to intolerable vexations and odious outrages, but
you are not to answer these crimes by the commission
of violences, which, under the spur of your resentment,
may seem to you legitimate.

“You are to remain under discipline and to show respect
to persons and property. You will know, after having
vanquished your adversary by force of arms, how to impress
him further by the dignity of your attitude, and the world
will not know which to admire most, your conduct in success
or your heroism in fighting.”