Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
War: The Art of the Devil.I
War: The Art of the Devil. I IV. OFFICIAL CHRISTIANITY I AND WAR. By Philip Frankford. All that is left of Christ's reli- gion is mendacious and fallacious pre- tence. Between the Church and Christ there is nothing in common. —Count de Rennesse. In the compaign of lies, hatred, malice, and, worst of all, in the deep-seated desire for revenge upon our enemies, the capitalist press, the priests, parsons, and politicians of this country have revealed themselves as the enemies of Christ—the meek and lowly one, who preached the spirit of forgiveness. Of Jesus it was written, When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not." Revenge and ha- tred are the texts upon whic1 nearly every article lecture and sermon are built up on to-day in this country, which is supposed to be wedded to the doctrines of Christ. The desire for revenge upon an en- emy may be a just one; it may be that we have a very big score to wipe off, but the way of Christ is, and must be, not through the darkness of revenge and hatred, but through the happy lanes of charity, peace and love. He who loves his friends only is very far from Christ, for do not the publicans and sinners do the same? Never has the Christian and ortho- dox showed himself so plainly to the world as during the preseut war. We see now. as never before, that bet- ween Christ and the Church there is nothing in common." In times of peace, the Church has insulted the Prince of Peace by en- couraging Militarism in every shape and form. During the war she has in all the belligerent countries excelled all her past efforts by reason of the war-like utterances, and in her at- tempt to stir up hatred and revenge. In short, the Church has directly be- trayed Christ by siding with militar- ism, war and murder. In peace time, the Church is busy poisoning the minds of the young with its Church Lads' Brigades, Boy Scouts, Itille Clubs, and dabbling in every form of militarism since the outbreak, the clergy, from highest to lowest, have, with a few honourable exceptions, vied with one another in their eagerness to kill the enemy with their mouth." In all the belli- gerent countries, the clergy are blas- pheming God by praying for the victory of their arms." That is to say, they are begging the Mighty Creator of the Universe that He will allow the other side to be slain and slaughtered. Each are demanding to conquer the other for their own material advantage. And this they ask for in the name of Christ, whose religion is one of love, and who taught us to "do good to them that bate us." It may be a IVery wise and prudent thing, from a wordly point of view, to hate our enemies, and pay them back in their own coin, etc., etc., but it is not Christianity; and no am- ount of juggling can make it so. The Catholic Church has specially placed herself in an absurd position. Being wedded to capitalism in each country, it has to support the pow- ers that be, and this makes enemies amongst her own children. For in- stance, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Westminster prays for the success of the English arms, and thus is ag- ainst his brother Bishop of Cologne, who, no, doubt, curses the Archbishop as a hated Englishman, and so on. Where s Christ's teaching here? Once more, the treatment of "alien enemies" is most deplorable in all the belligerent countries. Many an alien enmy is only absent from his Fatherland because, under capi- talism, he cannot get a living there. Yet the "alien" is subject to con- stant persecution. The fact that since the war the alien enemy's living is gone would, one might think, awa- ken a little pity; but no, he, for the faults of his rulers. must suffer all the punishment due the militarists of his own country. He may be wedded, not to foreigners, but to the daugh- ters of his adopted fatherland: it matters not. He and his are perse- cuted, and the so-called Christians have nothing to say. The spirit of Christ is far from his pseudo-follow- ers. but the spirit of the devil is with them yesterday, to-day, and for ever. During the last few years the Churches have lamented that they are empty. Ts it possible that al- though the people are not as a rule real followers of Christ, that they have seen through the- hollow mock- ery of their would-be teachers? The clergy are for ever ranting about sin and asking their congregations to confess their errors, amend their ways, and atone for their sins. But these very men encourage the great- est sin of all-war. If there is one thing in the world in which we can pin against the Creator it is -,in the horrible work of slaying millions of His children. And yet the clergy sup- port this sin. Again. the priests support the system which makes for a never-ending warfare. The strife bet- ween the possessed and disinherited. Between Christ and the Church there is nothing in common. Finally, we would ask all those who not being orthodox," and who think that a campaign of lies, re- venge and hatred is about the limit for those who call themselves Christ- ians, to range themselves on the side of the anti-militarist and the promo- ters of peace. We wonder sometimes how he who bears arms, or who loves things military, can enter a Christian temple. For the first few centuries after the death of Christ, no Christ- ian would consent to become a sol- dier some early Christians died ra- ther than bear arms. The spirit of love that so often conquers in an individual's life and in individual quarrels would also carry the day in international dis- putes if men and women were real Christians; that is to say, if the spirit of Christ entered into their lives. And it is perhaps rather strange that Socialists—who have always been stig- matised as Atheists ''—stand as the only peace party to-day in the world. The anti-militarists who have stood their ground in every belligerent country against the war are those of the Socialist Party. Since the out- break of hostilities, orthodox Christ- ianity may have gained a few adher- ents by selling its soul to the Devil, but we believe that the tide of mili- tarism will shortly turn. In Sweden, America and Italy, the anti-militar- ists have scored during the last few months some remarkable successes. When the war fever is over, we be- lieve the Church will reap where she has sown. She has helped the Art of the Devil; she must must sink with the Devilfs ship, Capitalism. _By her reckless compact with militarism and her love for war, she has bred Athe- ists and scoffers. And her attitude all over the world during the great Eu- ropean War will not be forgotten even by those who most profited by it. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap," is also true of a body of men. The spirit of war of militar- ism of hatred, revenge and "getting even with your enemies is not, and never has been. compatible with the Man who plainly taught us to "love our enemies." But the Church has ta- ken the narrow path that leadeth to destruction. And between the modern day church and Christ there is no- thing in common. And War. the Art .of the Devil, never can be reconciled with the teaching of Jesus of Naza- reth.
Why Weds the Warrior? I
Why Weds the Warrior? I They wonder why cur soldier Bill Who lately shied at Cupid, Has knuckle:! down at Mistress Jill. And lisped the fatal words "I will! Ho once considered stupid. What is there in this martial stress That makes a man's resistance less? Is't strict obedience learned in camp That helps him to be mated? Or is it that the careless scamp Whose morals were of vagrant stamp, With courage stimulated Assumes that, since he's in for strife He may as well take on a wife? He splices her some weeks before; Then after brief love prattle, He marches off to shea his g6re. And face the liery stress of war, The shriek and roar of battle. Who wouldn't wed as gay and breezy When getting out of it so easy? — Sydney Bulletin. I
The Palace. I
The Palace. I Another fine seleciton of pictures is being shown during the last three days of this week, the chief attraction being a fine Nordisk drama, The Lost Bride," a domestic drama of a very special character, and one that will be greatly appreciated. Three other fine dramas are "The Turning of the Road," "The Ward's Claim" and A Peasant's Lie," which are followed by a number of very amus- ing comedies. The Manager, Mr. Hall-Jones, has secured for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week that won- derful picture that was such a, great attraction, and was the talk of the district when it was shown some time ago. Satan is the greatest morality play that has ever been pro- duced. When it was at the Palace last time. tremendous crowds saw it, and hundreds were turned away dis- appointed. Well, here is another chance for them to see it. The op- portunity again presents it elf next week. "Satan" is in five parts, and will be shown at stated times—3.30, 5.30 and 8.30 on the three first days of next week. This picture deals with the power of evil, from the Creation to the preescnt time. Mario Bonnard takes the title role, and is a wonder- o, an d I S won d er- ful impersonation. On Thursday next Charlotte Bron- te's world-renowned work,, Jane Evre." is to be s hown. The story is well known, and is briefly-After a year of happy married life. Mrs. Ro- chester's child is born, and late Mrs. Rochester becomes insane. Eventually a governess is engaged to look after the child's education. Rochester, who has been paying attentions to Lady Ingram. with a view to marrying when the courts relievo him of his demented wife, but at the same time he is attracted by the governess, Jane Eyre. The story is well known, and has been well handled in this fine Cine drama. Mr. Hall-Jones has some very important announcements to make shortly in reference to his prog- rammes.
[No title]
Correspondents are requested to con- dense their letters as much as pov sible. Letters of a personal character will not be inserted. The Editor wishes it to be distinctly understood that be will not hold him- self responsible for the opinions or statements of correspondents, nor un- dertake to return rejected manuscripts. Correspondents MUST write on one side of the paper only.
TREATMENT OF BRITISH PRI-I…
TREATMENT OF BRITISH PRI- I SONERS IN GERMANY. (To the Editor of the PIONEER". Sir,—I observed in last week's PIONEER the Rev. T. E. Nicholas' ar- ticle under the title Greulonderau." Undoubtedly there is much truth in his remarks, but I am in a position to refute a portion of the paragraph. The part I refer to is Dywedwyd rai wythnosau yn ol fod carcharorion Prydeinig yn Ger- many yn cael eu trin yn greulon iawn; dywedid hyn ar dystiolaeth y carcharorion eu hunain. Tenodwyd cynrychiolwyr America i archwilio i fewn i gyflwr y carcharorion Pryd- einig; daeth yr adroddiad allan, a chafwyd nad oedd gwir yn y gair yn cael eu camdrin. Y mae y storiau am greulonderau Germany wedi torri lawr bron bob un. To that quotation I can emphati- cally say, Celwydd chwithau, ac celwydd yr Americanwyr ch dan- edd I have a brother who is in- terned at Ruhleben, who wrote to me in February, saying, Tell my friends we are not by any means downhearted, but only sorry our suffermg does not help our native land at this juncture." Less than two weeks ago I received a postcard with the following appeal:—"Ask Dilnot, editor of the "Daily Citizen," to request friends to send me bread and biscuits," and again I find this extract-, in the "Daily Citizen," May 22:—" Mr. P. Vuyk, of Amster- dam, writes emphasising the need of food experienced by Mr. W. John, prior to the war correspondent of the "Daily Citizen" at Hamburg, and now interned in Germany. An ap- peal from Mr. John for food was published a week ago. Mr. P. Vuyk writes:—" Mr. John had requested me to send him some bread. As bread and foodstuffs however, may not be exported from Holland, I could not, to my regret, act upon his request. He has now asked me to advise you of his needs, expressing the hope that you and his other friends in England will send him at intervals parcels of bread" Such is not cruelty, vide American Commission report, and Mr. Nicholas believes that report; consequently, Y mae y storiau am greulonderau Germany wedi torri lawr bron bob un." Personally. I do not desire to make a big stir, but, on reading the comment in Y Rhyfel Anghyf- iawn," my back stiffened, because I can rely absolutely on tEe truthful- ness of my brother's words. At the latter end of last year I defended the attitude of Messrs. Keir Hardie and Ramsay Macdonald in the local contemporary weekly, but ssince the slaughter of the innocents at Scar- boro' and other piratical feats by the Germans, I have judiciously kept silent, and. latterly, lost all faith in the German nation. I have one of my own blood in their vile hanas, and such a circumstance does not tend to produce kindly feelings. Of course, the author of "Y Rhyfel Anghyfiawn can see nothing better than to revive old sores.—" Greulon- derau yr Aipht, De Affrica, ac yn yr India; or Belgian cruelty in the Congo." We are familiar with all that, but Leopold II. has gone to his reckoning before the Great Judge on high, and it is often said that we should speak no ill of the dead; so why recall misdeeds of the past? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof, and the New Testament tells me-" Na fernwch, fel na'ch barner; canys a pha farn y bamoch, y'ch bernir; ac a pha fesur y mesuroch, yr adfesurir i chwithau." Be it said that I do this. I can only state that it is a human frailty. I know a littTre bit about arm- chair philosophy pivself. but there are limits to that. The scribes and preachers do not possess all the know- ledge, and in some matters they prefer to wait till "after the war" to investigate them, but on others they readily form opinions. Locally starvation is considered cruelty, es- pecially by the N.S.P.O.C. officials; but in Germany the American Com- mission, in whose report Mr. Nicholas has so much confidence, think it is not. He ought to take more pains in collecting evidence, so as not to be unjust in his very interesting arti- cles. 'Tis human to err," we all do. though I cannot allow the re- marks I have referred to, to go by without helping to straighten things.— Yours respectfully. EVAN JOHN. I 11 Henry Square, Abercanaid. May 22, 1915.
WAR.I
WAR. I (To the Editor of the PIONEER.) I Sir,—The following declarations re- lating to war may prove of interest to your readers — They that take up the sword shall perish by the sword.—Jesus. Whenever there is war the devil makes hell larger. German Proverb. 0, war, thou son of hell. Shakespeare. War is a brain spattering windpipe, slitting art.—Lord Bacon. War is the devil's gambling game.— George Fox. There never was a good war nor a bad peace.—Benjamin Franklin. War never decided any question of right or wrong.—Thomas Jefferson. War is the trade of barbarism. Napoleon Bonaparte. War is hell let loose.—John Bright. The military profession is a damn- able profession.—The Duke of Wel- lington A good man never makes a good soldier. The worst man always makes the best soldier. The soldier is nothing but a legalised murderer.—Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was a great gambler, whose game was empires. whose stakes were thrones. whose table earth, whose dice were human bones. -Lord Byron. War is the statesman's game, the lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade ,-Shelley. My greatest regret is that I have been the author of three wars, in which thousands of lives were lost.— Prince Bismarck. I I confess, with shame, that I am sick and tired of war. Its glory is all moonshine. Even success the most brilliant is over dead and mangled bodies, the anguish and lamentation of distant families appealing to me for missing sens, husbands, and fa- thers. It is only those who have not heard a shot nor heard the shriek and groans of the wounded and lace- rated that cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more desolation. W ax is hell.—General Sherman. I cannot conceive of anything more like hell than war. I cannot think of anything more like hell than the awful barbarsim of warfare. Rev. Edward Parry, Aberdylais. I do not know of a war for the last 300 years that was caused by a sold- ier or by a soldier's ambition. All wars have economic causes. Without a single exception, all wars are wars for trade. They are all ca.used by bank- ers, merchants and business men. General F. Dent Grant. War is not fighting, but murder by chemistry. It is that diabolical, horrible kind of thing that a man cannot see without feeling he wants to shoulder a gun and help to stop this damnable business. In thesse words the Rev. J. C. Carlisle, of Folkestone, speaking before the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland at the Bloomsbury Central Chapel. Easter 1915. summed up the impressions ga- thered at the front. We may say that labelled upon all those parcels of goods there is a spark of kindly feeling from one country to the other, and ships re- volving between those lands is like the shuttle upon a loom weaving the web of concord between the nations of the earth.— W. E. Gladstone. War had never done the world any good, and never would do the world any good.—Jane Adams. The more you examine this matter, the more you will come to the conclu- sion, which I have arrived at, that this foreign policy, this regard for "the Liberties of Europe," this care at one time for "the Protestant in- terests." this excessive love for "the balance of power," is neither more nor less than a gigantic system of out-door relief for the aristocrocy of Great Britain.John Bright. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their speara into pruning hooks. Nation shall not rise against nation, nor shall men learn war any more.—Isaiah. For every pound of public money raised in this country, 1613-1 ba, been spent for armaments. Is that not pre- paring for war? Henry Richard said that the working men producad wealth, and that the classes destroy it through the mouth of the ccnnon.— Yours, etc., T. E. DA VIES. Trimsaran, May 17, 1915. j
SAVING LIFE. I
SAVING LIFE. I (To the Editor of the PIONEER ) I Sir,—May I once again appeal to your readers to support the work which the East London Federation ot the Suffragettes is doing in the Bo- rough of Poplar. From four centres milk is given daily to the babies who are brought to our clinics, and the doctor who sees the babies weekly is of opinion that the lives of many of the babies have been saved by the milk which we have given. More im- portant still is the fact that many babies who might have survived to grow up stunted weaklings have been given a fair start in life. Funds are needed to meet the weekly milk bill, which is about £ 25. The summer is coming, and hot weather is particularly trying for the babies. We want the infant death roll in Poplar to be the lowest this summer that has ever been known. Will not some of your readers help oy sending donations towards the milk fund to Miss N. L. Smyth, Hon. Financial Secretary, 'E.L.F.S., 400 Old .Ford Road, Bow, E. ?-Yours. &c., &c., E. D. SHARP, Press Secretary, E.L.F.S. 400 Old Ford Road, Bow, E.
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