THE STILL SMALL VOICE 



level mountains or blot out landscapes, usually 

 make but slight impression upon the fields and hills. 

 In the ordinary course of nature, the great benef- 

 icent changes come slowly and silently. The noisy 

 changes, for the most part, mean violence and dis- 

 ruption. The roar of storms and tornadoes, the ex- 

 plosions of volcanoes, the crash of the thunder, are 

 the result of a sudden break in the equipoise of the 

 elements; from a condition of comparative repose 

 and silence they become fearfully swift and audible. 

 The stiU smaU voice is the voice of Hfe and growth 

 and perpetuity. In the stillness of a bright summer 

 day what work is being accomplished! what proc- 

 esses are being consummated! When the tornado 

 comes, how quickly much of it may be brought to 

 naught! In the history of a nation it is the same. 

 The terrible war that is now devastating Europe is 

 the tornado that comes in the peace and fruitful re- 

 pose of a summer's day. As living nature in time re- 

 covers from the destructive effects of the mad war- 

 ring of the inorganic elements, so the nations will 

 eventually recover from the blight and waste of this 

 war. But the gains and the benefits can never offset 

 the losses and the agony. The discipline and agony 

 of war only fit a people for more war. If war is to be 

 the business of mankind, then the more of it we have 

 the better; if there is no true growth or expansion 

 for a people, save through blood and fire, then let 

 the blood and fire come to aU of us, the more the 

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