bey for that
Scotsmen were "citizens of an Empire so great, members of a Church so
free." In the building up of the Empire Scotsmen have borne a great
share of toil and peril. In other days the fires of patriotism burned
brightly. The cry of our fathers was "my country right or wrong." But
we feel not quite so sure of our country being always in the right.
The passion of Christianity is an ethical passion. Christian
patriotism demands national righteousness. To keep patriotism as an
ardent fire we must be convinced that our country stands for
righteousness. And in this day of our ordeal we have this certainty to
uphold us, that we are fighting for the right.

It was not in defiance of Christianity, but in its defence, that we
drew the sword. For this war sprang from an unbridled lust of conquest
to which a whole nation surrendered itself. But before surrendering to
the passions of war the ideals of Christ were first forsaken by our
enemy. A new law was promulgated: "Become hard, O my brethren, for we
are emancipated and the world belongs to us." New beatitudes were
declared: "Ye have heard how ... it was said, Blessed are the meek ...
but I say unto you, Blessed are the valiant, for they shall make the
earth their throne ... Ye have read, Blessed are the peacemakers, but I
say unto you, Blessed are the war-makers, for they shall be called, if
not the children of Jehovah, the children of Odin, who is greater than
Jehovah."

Out of this new gospel, the gospel of Odin, has sprung a war of
extermination--exiled nations, devastated kingdoms, desolated colleges,
ruined cathedrals, and multitudes of women and children "left nothing
but their eyes to weep with." The name of God has been invoked over
unspeakable barbarities--but the God thus invoked is not the Christian
God. It is Odin in whose name these things are done. What we are
fighting for is for the Christian ideal against Odin--for the law of
truth and mercy against the reign of falsehood of word and bond, and of
merciless barbarity. We have bared the breast to death that there may
sit on the throne of the world's soul, not a ruthless tribal god, but
the God of Fatherhood and Love whom Jesus Christ revealed. And in
waging that war we have ground to hope that the God of righteousness is
on our side.

If we have not had the name of God constantly on our lips it is not
because we do not feel that we are fighting His battle, but because He
is so great, t