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WATCHMAN WHAT OF THE NIGHT?Author(s): JOEL MARTINSource: Advocate of Peace (1847-1884), New Series, Vol. 3, No. 42 (JUNE, 1872), p. 186Published by: World Affairs InstituteStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27905323 .

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186 THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE.

" WATCHMAN WHAT OF THE NIGHT ?" BY KEV. JOEL MARTIN.

It has been said that 44 analysis must prepare the way for

synthesis," so it may be stated, and that with a great degree of justice, that agitation and opposition, twin sisters in the cause of truth, justice, humanity and religion, must ever pre cede great and lasting reforms in any community, nation, or

state. They have proved to be the divinely appointed means

for the accomplishment of God's purposes in the world. So that when they have marched out against the cause of error

because it was error, or oppression because it was oppression, they have gone to* victory hand in hand. But when they were

only the means to accomplish selfish, ungodly ends, employed

only in erecting towers from which strangers were to hurl

death missiles of another sort, they have been first to make war and last to establish peace between man and man When the history of a system has proved it to be pernicious it be comes the entire community, or nation if need be, to rise en

masse and advocate those principles which will accomplish the

great end of civilized governments. And so it must appear to-day to every philanthropist in

Christendom, that the past system of war has been productive of crimes, prostitution and suffering without parallel in the

history of civilized man. Shall we not take counsel from ex

perience and a universal testimony? May we not learn a lesson from the page of European history so recently written in the blood of her young men ? Does not the dust of our

brothers cry to us from the ground of the sunny South, testify

ing to the immediate necessity of substituting arbitration for war under all circumstances ? Men may wax eloquent over our

Success and victories in war, and rejoice in the fact that we have ever conquered our foes since the flag of red, white and blue fcdorned with thirteen stars,

44 representing a new constella

tion," first waved in triumph on the ever memorable battlefield of Saratoga. But if there is any glory associated with the his

tory of the American people, or of the world, it is that part which was written while the temple of Janus was closed and the angel of peace guarded the habitations of men.

When the nations emerged from the Dark Ages the unparal leled gloom which closed in around them could not be dispersed in a short space of time ; it was the work of centuries to weed but all the plants of barbarism which had now sprung up as from ? second sowing. So that when men began to lay the founda

tions for new systems of government in the lands they were

discovering, evils crept in to destroy the seeds of virtue and truth before they had even passed through the first stages of

development. Hence it has become the painful duty of this

generation to apply the principles of restraint, which have long been recognized as right and destined to prevail.

First, then we ask, is war compatible with Christianity? To the careful student of the New Testament Scriptures, only one

reply need be given, and that agrees with the spirit of the en

tire Gospel which incorporated a new system with broad and and even world-wide application ;

44 Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the other also ;" which can

mean no less than the turning of men from the practices of the heathen world, among which was early incorporated the flagrant evil known as war. What was palliated in the dispensation of the law has been tolerated in some instances in these 44 latter

days," but war with its attendant vices has been condemned by the spirit of Christianity for the past eighteen hundred years.

And it would seem as though the hand of a righteous God would smite the earth with famine and pestilence if the Christian na

tions longer pursued a course so full of evil tendencies. The

spirit of the times bids us 44 arise and shine," putting off the

ways of the heathen and benighted nations of the world.

Second, the question arises, how are we to reconstruct so

ciety so as to affect the abolition of a system so fraught with sin and madness ? It is impossible to purify this stream unless

public opinion is prepared for the change. Mankind is a great brotherhood, having a common origin, a similar destiny and is raised to immortality by a common Saviour of us all. And when we fail to rise and grapple with the great quest ons which are

of^such vital importance to our civilization in this 44 era of

Christianity," we fall below the glad expectation of our sires)

and to an extent forfeit the privileges and advantages we enjoy.

I will not say that our experiment of government has been a

failure, it has been a glorious success, but it were better for us now and for all future time, if we should abolish the national war system and feel assured that these murderous conflicts should never again desolate the habitations of men. Multi tudes evidently have their desire expressed in the words of

Osceola, the Seminoie chief, whose people were being driven from their homes in Florida, tc take refuge in the distant wilds

beyond the Mississippi, when he said he *? wished to rest in the land of his fathers, and his children to sleep by his side."

Then in order that we may secure the blessing the red man most craved, let us heed the experiences which we have already had in the arts of peace, and ever labor and pray for the tri

umph of right principles which shall receive the blessings of a

gracious God and insure abiding peace. Then may we lead China, India, and the islands of the sea to cherish an increasing regard for our institutions and receive at our hands the word of life with gladness. For like the fairy, who by a mysterious law of her nature was condemned to appear at certain seasons in disguise. And those who injured her during this period of her

disguise were forever excluded from participation in the bless

ings she bestowed. But to those who in spite of her unattrac tive aspect pitied her and afforded her protection, she afterward

appeared in the beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their footsteps, granted all their wishes,

made them happy in love, and filled their houses with happiness, wealth and plenty. Such a spirit is Peace. She may assume an humble aspect, but woe to him who shall dare to crush her ! And happy is he who having received her when in disguise, for he at length shall be rewarded by her in the time of her

beauty, loveliness and perpetual glory. So then, let us give heed to these things for the millennial glory of the Holy one of Israel draweth near, as there are indications that he shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

DOES THE CAUSE OF PEACE GAIN GROUND? BY J. S. WILLETTS.

This is a question deserving very serious consideration.

Although a time of peace between all the nations of Christen

dom, yet, perhaps, there was never a more persistent prepara tion for war among the principal nations of Europe than at the

present moment. And our own country, with her military and naval academies in full blast, in preparing future officers for our army and navy, is not sleeping, but watching the move ments of other nations with the keenness of eagle eyes. One

year ago, a war, commenced on the most trivial of pretexts, was raging with most terrible destructiven?ss ; and blood

thirsty spirits were not wanting to have plunged our own

country into war's horrid abyss. But wiser counsels prevailed ; and yet, while rejoicing over what we considered the establish ment of a firm bond of union between us and our mother

country, we are startled by a demand for a withdrawal from its obligations ; and there are doubtless men on both sides of the Atlantic who would rejoice to see the parchment of our

far-famed Washington treaty torn into atoms, and the two nations engaged in deadly warfare.

Some fifty years ago, a Chalmers, a Bogue, a Dymond, a

Gurney, and others on the other side of the Atlantic, and on

this, a Worcester, a Ladd, a Whelply, a Beckwith and Collier, and others more recently, were writing, preaching and lectur

ing against war, and many thousands of their productions have been scattered over the world, and many thousands have as

sented to the views they inculcate?a generation cotemporary with them, and like them, mostly passed from this stage of action. And what have they done to stop war's dreadful rav

ages ? The writings of these departed worthies are to-day the standard and most effective arguments against war, and in favor of peace, and while being scattered broadcast over the land, are they and all other efforts doing more than educating the

present generation into an assent to their principles? Fifty years of mere assent to the principles of peace has

done but little toward eradicating the custom of war. Doubt

less many difficulties between nations have been settled by

pacific means within that period, by the efforts of Christian

philanthropists and statesmen, but yet there seems to be some

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