aggressions of a tyrannous and unscrupulous foe. Within our own Empire we have seen, as by a miracle, the sudden welding of the nation's life. Men and parties which a fortnight before were irreconcilable leaped into one another's arms. Without regard for political attachments, men have been invited to accept, and have accepted, the gravest responsibilities at their country's call. The opening of homes and mansions for hospitals, the outpouring of a quarter of a million in a single day for the Prince of Wales' Fund, the magnificent response to his Majesty's call for volunteers-prove that the spirit of the nation is not dead and the spirit of sacrifice, thank God, still lives. Ireland, which ten days before was the blackest cloud on our otherwise bright sky, is now the brightest spot on the dark horizon, for Nationalist Catholics of the South and Protestant Ulstermen of the North, ready two weeks before to lock arms in civil strife, are now shoulder to shoulder to defend the nation's honor and protect the country's flag. The danger that has threatened the Motherland has brought her children from over the seas with swiftest steps to her side. From

India and every self-governing Colony of the Empire have come the warm and unsolicited assurances of support. You know the response awakened in Canada, and I am confident that I voice the spirit which animates this land, that there shall not be lacking the full share of men and treasure and courage to assist that dear old Motherland who has bequeathed and secured to us the sweetest and truest liberties we enjoy.

2. Our second duty is to remember that God is over all. In the stately words of our lesson, "It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers." The nations before Him are as a drop of a bucket. He is the exalter of princes and the debaser of monarchs. He setteth up whom He will and putteth down whom He shall choose. Eagle-like He moves with lordly power in lofty planes. He is strong to destroy as well as to save. His eye is keen to mark every foul thing upon the earth. His sudden justice often swoops down on the rotting carcase of Society to rend it in pieces with His unexpected judgment. We recall

ton? No.

what Victor Hugo said of Waterloo: "Was it possible for Napoleon to win Waterloo? We answer, No. Why? Because of WellingBecause of Blucher? No. Because of the rain? No. Because of God. It was time this vast man should fall. He had been impeached before the throne of the Infinite and his fall had been decreed." And then Victor Hugo adds, with almost a touch of sacrilege: "Napoleon bothered God." Woe to the nation that "bothers God"! We can hope and ask for nothing higher than to be the instruments of His will in all His unfolding of the moral order. And if so be that we are among those who are His chosen ministers of judgment, we must do our appointed work thoroughly and well. And I do not say that with the German people in mind. There is a sense in which we are not at war with the German people, but with a war spirit behind them which they detest and under which they groan as deeply as we. And it can hardly be doubted that they shall

serve the interests of

peace and the Kingdom of the Prince of Peace who shall join hands to blot out from the face of the earth that selfish, cruel, unscrupu

lous, blood-lusting spirit of militarism, which, for the gratification of its own ambitions, does not hesitate "to wade through slaughter to a throne and shut the gates of mercy on mankind."

3. Our third duty is to fortify ourselves for great sacrifice. We shall all be sufferers. There is no one, rich or poor, high or low, from the King with his overwrought anxiety to the lowliest child, on whom the burden will not fall. The pressure of pain will come upon Society everywhere. Destitution will not be slow to visit us. Sorrow shall sit on every doorstep. The homes of great and small will be wrapped in gloom alike because the light will have died out of young eyes, and the strong hearts of fathers and husbands and brothers and sons will have ceased to beat. It is the duty of all to sink their selfish interests in the interests of mankind. We must lend ourselves—as each one may-to the service of others. The individual loss, the individual grief, the individual discomfort, must be forgotten. We have had a noble example set for us by President Wilson of the United

States of America, who, from the bedside of his dying wife, penned the messages of mediation to every warring State of Europe, messages which thus far have fallen on deaf and heedless ears. It is not easy thus to subordinate personal grief to the service of mankind. But it must be done. The rich must pour out their wealth like water; the poor, their sympathy and service. Employers must protect employees who often live on such a narrow margin. Employees must be considerate of their employers who have such immense interests at stake. All greed and attempts to trade on the nation's disaster must be crushed out of our hearts. Not even in money or food must we try to hoard beyond our daily and sufficient need. Above all things, we must clothe our spirits in humility and intercession. We must bear in our souls, not the weakness of panic but the power of peace. We must carry on our lips, not the empty boastings of pride but the persistent prayers of faith. For our help is in God. It is in no other. More than all else our leaders need-and shall I say desire our prayers, that theirs may be the Divine wisdom and theirs the Divine power.