though brutes by body are divine by spirit; and the eternally new shall outlive the eternally old. "For still the new transcends the old In signs and tokens manifold; Thursday, October 15, 1914. ANTICHRIST ABOUT two thousand years ago there appeared on earth a strange religion. In the midst of the hard Roman Empire a sect arose advocating love, mercy, purity, and justice, disclaiming the sword. This sect conquered the earth. Its willing martyrs subdued the hired legions. Its religion became the established faith of Europe. Then came that corroding doubt of purely spiritual power which by and by paralyzed the world. The specious necessity of physical force to establish righteousness was accepted by all. Professing to believe in Christ, Christendom lapsed into the profoundest treachery. They ceased to rely upon the power of goodness alone. They took the sword. Upon this treachery governments were organized. Professing faith in Christ the nations agreed upon the programme of Antichrist. And now come the inevitable results. Europe is in universal convulsion. The bat tles where the largest armies in history contend are more terrible than the woes of the Apocalypse. It is the realization, the coming into expression, of the spirit of Antichrist. For these are Christ's beatitudes, and these of Antichrist: (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.) Blessed are the fierce and proud in spirit, for theirs are the kingdoms of earth. (Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.) Blessed are the successful, that shout and laugh, for they shall need no comfort. (Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.) Blessed are the dominant, for they shall subdue the earth. (Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.) Blessed are they that hunger for power, place, glory, and conquest, and ride rough-shod over righteousness, for they shall find success. (Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.) Blessed are they of "blood and iron," the ruthless and the cruel, for they shall obtain praise and possessions. For what good is mercy? (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.) Blessed are the hard of heart, for they shall command God and bend Him to their will. (Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.) Blessed are the warmakers, for they shall be called the children of Odin, who is greater than the soft God of love. (Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom. of heaven.) Blessed are they that persecute, kill, and destroy for their nation's sake, for theirs is the rule on earth. I say unto you, said the Christ, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you. I say unto you, says the Antichrist, arm against your enemies, curse them that curse you, drop bombs upon the undefended cities of your traditional foes, hash them with bayonet, slash them with sabre, shred them with shrapnel, burn their cities, tear down their homes, outrage, maim, and kill them; for so shall ye be loyal and faithful subjects of your kings. Friday, October 16, 1914. THE GUN WAR AND THE IDEA ONE great wrong of the gun war now in process is that it stops the idea war which was progressing well. The gun war is about nothing at all, as far as the people are concerned. The highsounding phrases of German "Weltmacht oder Niedergang" (World-power or Destruction), of Slav destiny, of French revenge, of balance of power, and of all such statecraft formulas, mean nothing to the people, as to bread and butter, economic advance, the abolition of special privilege, and the conquest of capital by democracy. The idea war is about something that really matters. It was being fought, earnestly though bloodlessly, in every university of Europe, in every parliament, in every political campaign, in periodicals and pamphlets, in social discussion everywhere. It is a war for better conditions, for liberty |