CHAPTER XIV. LABORS FOR PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION. War is the statesman's gain, the priest's delight, Daughter of God, that sit’st on high Too long o'er this fair blooming world Whilst, as each maddening people reels, Shriek Murder and Dismay! -Shelley. -William Tennent. Peace is more strong than war, and gentleness, Where force were vain, makes conquest o'er the wave. -Lowell. ITH faces turned toward the future and with hearts WITH eager to respond to every inspiration from God, the W. C. T. U. closely scans the present, to read from passing events some new duty and discover some additional line of effort. In thus keeping in touch with God's movements in history, it has been quick to discern the impulse of the world toward universal peace. The department of Peace and International Arbitration was early added to the various other forms of work. Mrs. Hannah J. Bailey, of Winthrop Center, Me., was placed over it, and Mrs. Woodbridge was made the department lecturer for the World's and National W. C. T. U. For several years prior to the last year of her life she did much work in this field of effort, lecturing in hundreds of towns and cities in this country and in Europe. We find among her papers and notebooks a manuscript of an address to be delivered in Philadelphia, at what time or place is not indicated. Presumably, it is substantially the line of thought she followed in any discussion of the theme. We know a certain famous lecturer in this country who once said to a friend: "I never feel that I have mastered a theme or have a subject well in hand until I have spoken upon it at least fifty times." How well Mrs. Woodbridge spoke her fiftieth time on this great theme we shall never know. The best we can give the reader is this, -perhaps the first unfinished draft of the speech. The vanquished rival of Demosthenes once read Demosthenes' great oration on the "Crown," to an audience, and was rewarded by a storm of applause. "Ah," said he, "but you ought to have heard him deliver it!" However this address may read, we can sincerely say, "Ah, but you ought to have heard her deliver it!" PEACE AND ARBITRATION IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. To speak of "Peace" in this city of "Brotherly Love," or to talk of "arbitration" when the Society of Friends has held sway during the Republic's existence, seems but a travesty on reason. Yet from whence could such truth better proceed, than where precept and practice are ever aiming at the fulfillment of that Bethlehem prophecy, "Peace on earth, good will toward men"? During the present century interest in this subject has been awakened, and has slowly but steadily grown until, under the quickening of conscience, civilized Christian nations are recognizing the fact that individual and national life are so interwoven that what interests one person or one nation, more or less concerns all. Taking the Scriptures as a standard, we present as a fundamental proposition, that war is contrary to the will and the spirit of Christ; a hindrance to the building of His kingdom upon the earth in withholding "the government from His shoulders." This is not a conviction of the latter day; for history reveals to us the sensitiveness of conscience among early Christians concerning war, military organizations and the entrance therein of those who professed the name of the Lord. In the early centuries of the Christian era, ere the brightness of Christianity was dimmed by the sinful ambitions of Christ's professed followers, all disciples held to the incompatibility of a soldier's life with obedience to the Master's teachings. Justin, the martyr, calls the devil "the author of war," while Tatian and Tertullian held like opinions; the latter asking: “Can a soldier's life be lawful when Christ has said, 'He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword'? Shall he who is not to revenge his own wrongs be instrumental in bringing others into chains, imprisonment, torment and death?" Chrysostom and Jerome spoke with equal clearness. No well authenticated instance has been found of a Christian's entrance into the army during the first two centuries of the Christian era; though then as now the military profession was considered most honorable, and almost the only calling in which a man of humble origin might hope to rise and achieve glory. Early writers speak of Christians and soldiers as two distinct classes of men, and Clemens of Alexandria expressly says: "Those who were the followers of peace used none of the instruments of war." Not only did Christians refuse to enter the army, but many instances are recorded in which conversion led men to retire from its ranks. Eusebius tells us that "numbers laid aside a military life and became private persons rather than abjure their religion." Every Christian writer of the second century who mentions the subject, and there are many, regarded it unlawful for Christians to bear arms. Even to martyrdom were men ready to stand for this principle. Who can fail to admire the spirit of that Maximilian who, when called before Dion, the pro-consul, to be enrolled as a soldier, exclaimed: "I am a Christian; I cannot fight." Dion said: "Bear arms or thou shalt die," and Maximilian answered: "I cannot fight if I die." Refusing to receive the government mark, because he already bore the stamp of Christ, Dion said: "I will quickly send thee to thy Christ." As if he caught a ravishing glimpse of his heavenly home, Maximilian replied: "Thou mayst do so but the glory will be mine." The sentence was speedily executed and his loving mother buried the body of her son beside that of Cyprian, the martyr, where, but thirteen days after, she too was laid to rest. Was not the husband and father well named "Victor," who could turn from that spot rejoicing and praising God that he had been permitted to make such offering to his Lord, well knowing he, too, must soon follow? Thus when the lamp of Christianity burned brightly, when there was singleness of eye and of purpose, men stood; and not until paganism crept in during the third century was there change. But under its influence, this principle seems to have been almost forgotten. For centuries the pagan view of the subject has been dominant; war has largely been regarded by the nations as the necessary and only honorable method by which insult should be met, or encroachment resisted. If its declaration has been delayed, preparations have been made for strife, armies and fleets equipped, national enmity awakened and inflamed, while forbearance and love have been forgotten, until judgment has been biased and peaceful settlement of difficulties often rendered impossible. The religious society of Friends has from its organization held as a distinctive tenet that bitterness of spirit, unkind retaliation, military tenure and action are contrary to the gospel of peace, and at variance with the teachings of the Prince of Peace. As the Prince of Peace has thus been held up, the promise has been fulfilled. He has drawn men unto Himself, and to the advocacy of His principles. And though contumely and martyrdom were their portion in early days, which they suffered as their Master without opening their mouth, they are now honored by the increasing acceptance throughout Christendom of the principles for which they stood. And not alone their teaching against unrighteous warfare, but their recognition of the position and sphere of woman in the affairs of the church, and the honor they have ever paid to the office of the Holy Spirit, have been of unspeakable blessing to the world. They have accepted heartily in its spirit the Golden Rule which leads directly to a system of arbitration in the settlement of national and international difficulties that cannot be met by negotiations or treaties. The time is fast ripening for its adoption as our rule of action if "the earth shall ever be a paradise and human life a psalm.” There is no doctrine of Scripture more self-evident than that peace is God's will for man; that He has ordained it to be the result of right conduct; that perfect peace is the divine gift of those who are stayed on Him. There is no truth more axiomatic than that our homes should be the abiding place of peace, as the result of virtue and justice within its walls. And as the nations are but the aggregation of homes, can any reason be found why they should not be equally pure and righteous? Let peace depart from the home, let dissension enter and the home life is banished. If this be confined within four walls there is misery to the family, and often to associates; if it be in the nation, its results reach to the limits of its territory, and if international, to the world. Cast the eye over our land and count if we can the cost of our civil war. Statisticians tell us that 656,000 fathers, brothers and sons were torn from home and home influences to fall upon the battlefield or die in hospital or prison cell. Men made in the image of God, snatched from every holy association, and returned to the earth from whence they came, without apparent thought of that immortality which God has given to every soul! Numberless thousands returned decrepit and unfit for life's duties, physical or moral wrecks. Four long years these and others were consumers of the nation's wealth; and an enfeebled host and their children are consuming still, none the less a fact because such provision has been made in honor and justice to the nation's defenders. Manufacturing interests were depressed and resources diminished by the withdrawal of |