THE WAR JUSTIFIED 77 



French and German soldier alike is as crib able only 

 to consciousness of contact with some higher being. 

 Characterised as no previous conflict has been by 

 the sudden awakening of the individual to something 

 above and beyond himself, the war now waging is a 

 religious war in the deepest sense and this be- 

 cause Christianity has raised man to the perception 

 of a life beyond self. 



Religion has throughout history been the amal- 

 gamating principle in the building up and mainte- 

 nance of national character. Indeed, the superiority 

 of Christianity over other religions is best attested 

 by the fact that the Christian era is marked as no 

 other has been by the rise and growth of many na- 

 tions. The Fatherhood of God and the brother- 

 hood of man, the giving of self, are manifestly fac- 

 tors making for integration ; and it is to these, in the 

 last analysis, that the superhuman entities now con- 

 tending with one another for the survival of the 

 fittest owe their existence. Christ's mission was to 

 bring to man the knowledge of a higher life. His 

 teachings make it most clear that the way to this 

 life is through social cohesion "When (even) two 

 or three are gathered together in my name there am 

 I in the midst of them." In the light of this, who 

 shall say that the Lord of Hosts is not with each 

 and every nation that goes forth to battle calling 

 on His name? Certain it is that the community of 

 spirit basic to an efficient state organisation, to say 



