WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 



BY CHARLES T. GORHAM, 



Author of " Christianity and Civilization" etc. 



NEVER have the souls of men been more sorely tried than 

 at present. Across Europe rolls the roar of guns, 

 peaceful villages burst into flame, ships of death sail the 

 midnight sky and rain murder on the innocent, at every 

 moment brave men are slain. Under the weight of over- 

 whelming calamity the world staggers and groans. Was 

 this all designed before the foundations of the earth were 

 fixed? How, then, can any one worship the designer? Is 

 it a by-product, an undesigned and unexpected result of 

 creative power? How, then, can Omnipotence exist? Does 

 not the state of Europe make the belief in God a superstition ? 



Possibly it does ; but it is a superstition to which many 

 millions will still cling. The war imports no new features 

 into the problem of evil. It brings into more lurid colours 

 perplexities which have faced men since the days when they 

 dwelt in caves and lifted their wondering eyes to the rising 

 sun. But in the shadow of the immense disaster the figure 

 of the Loving Father recedes into dim and formless outlines. 

 Trust in his care grows faint and feeble. Human tears blur 

 the vision of eternal bliss, as human love has quenched the 

 fires of hell. It is true that many, in despair of human effort, 

 will fix their hopes the more intently on objects that seem to 

 bring balm to their wounded souls. But where thought 

 stings into activity, where obstinate questionings are not 

 crushed or evaded, the claims of reality cannot be ignored. 

 To mental sloth facts are inconvenient, if occasional, visitors. 

 By the active mind they demand full acceptance. Theories 

 that will not bear the daylight must go. Sooner or later, 

 that which actually is must be perceived, and its meaning 

 sought till comprehension comes. 



The comfort derived from religious faith is largely made 

 up of illusion. Behind the faith lies a view of the universe 

 which is eternally unverifiable. Love of illusion is common, 

 but it is not universal. Nor is it likely to be permanent. 



79 G 



