The Fight for Peace: an Aggressive Campaign for American Churches
BY SIDNEY L. GULICK, D.D., 1883. Fleming H. Revell Company, 1915.
Had the preachers of Europe and America been doing their full duty, had the churches made a man's acceptance of the Golden Rule in international affairs a test of his Christianity, this war would not have occurred. "Whoever is in earnest for world-peace can gain his end only as he exalts and makes universal the rule of the Golden Rule." But Dr. Gulick makes no mere preachment. Many people talk of universal brotherhood. Here is a man who, after traveling widely, working, observing, and thinking, tries to remove the stigma he himself inscribes by setting forth concrete cases and modes of action quite in accord with the teaching of Christ, "Overcome evil with good,"— modes the utility of which cannot be refuted excathedra, and which have never been tried.
"Nations great and strong must learn to respect those that are weak and small. . . . Each will rejoice in the prosperity of the rest, and the prosperity of each will promote the prosperity of all. . . . Whence, however, are these changes to come unless it be from Christ through the Church?" Dr. Gulick proposes an "Ecumenical Peace Council of Christian Churches" to be held in some European center, the Church Peace Union of America perhaps to take the lead. This is in harmony with recommendations of the World Alliance of the Churches which last August in the heart of Europe bravely held its candle against the thunder cloud.
Others are busy perfecting machinery for peace. The churches must mould the hearts and minds of men. They should see the significance of races, "and help the world to give each race that opportunity which will enable it to make its characteristic contribution to the life of the whole." While the proper government authorities must execute international policies, "the characteristic moral features should be determined by the Christian citizens of our land." This book is an appeal for effective organization of such citizens in their churches. Methods of organization and action are suggested. Peace education is urged for the young.
Dr. Gulick never lets a thing go by default of ways and means ; so he has them ready in national policies and in the attitude of the churches toward them. A western power dealing with a peaceful eastern people like the Chinese must not break its treaties. Dr. Gulick affirms that we have broken them, and that the churches—will all their apparent interest in foreign work—have not known it. We should give no people cause to think of arming against us. Let us deal justly and kindly with Japan; adopt a better policy toward aliens and race assimilation; with entire devotion put millions of dollars into Mexico for her educational and financial recovery. This is a bare indication of some of the policies proposed, and gives not at all the author's many ideas for carrying them out. The book will be in the hands of every pastor in the country, a good start toward the great influence it ought to have.
C.B.C.
