1924 - Annual Convention Report

              T s W H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 57
prSvnul them. K deepens the belief that a day of hotter understanding and fellow­ship
and pence among the nations is dawning.
Resolutions endorsed at many of the religious conventions give evidence of the
» t » « l y march of the peace movement i n the churches. A sample of such resolutions
as are being endorsed by the church conventions is one passed by the Methodist.
E^ sscopel Church at Springfield Mass. in M a y of this year:
" War is the most colossal and ruinous social sin that afflicts mankind today.
It is utterly and irremediably un- Christian. It has become not only futile but
suicidal ana recognition of this fact is necessary to the continuance of civilisation;
, " Resolved that we declare our sincere repentance for past ignorance of, or lack
of faith in Christ's ideals and methods of righting wrong and,
" That we memorialise the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Couch « o declare for an unalterable opposition on the part of our church to the entire
war system, economic exploitation imperialism and militarism— tn call upon the
Government to cooperate with other nations in organisations looking toward world
peace; and to inform the Government that our church can take no part in any
movement toward war but that we dedicate anew our life and resources to the
building o f a world brotherhood wherein the principles of the Sermon on the Mount
shall be progressively practised."
T h e World Federation of Kducation Associations met in California last year.
They passed strong peace resolutions and asked that the schools of the nations
set apart M a y 18th, as a " World Good- Will Day." I believe many of the schools
of the United States have set apart that day to celebrate as day of world good- will.
S t a l l signs of a growing movement toward world peace gladdens our hearts
s a d give a new impetus to the hone that springs eternal m the human breast. But
we must increase our efforts. There arc two alternatives before the world— de­struction,
degradation, and suffering unspeakable by way of war— or a nobler race
developing the divine that is within us, working toward the fulfillment of man's
high destiny b y way of peace. Surely, surely, women will see that the world follows
the latter course. To establish and maintain peace among the nations is eminently
woman's work. It is to her that God has entrusted the sacred function of child-beanns;
and the mother- heart, everywhere, should assert itself. Women in every
lead should stand together— clasping hands till these clasped hands encircle the
globe on which we live taking in all races and colors and creeds of womankind and
together they should decree—-" There shall be no more war."
And if our hope of a world peace be fulfilled, if the nations will listen to the
voice of a common Father and take to heart what was once given as a new eom-mandment
" that ye love one another," then it will seem that the vision is realized,
the vision that appeared In H im who was crucified, when He saw the travail c l His
soul and was satisfied.
S O M E P E R S O N A L I M P R E S S I O N S F R O M T H E F . W . I . C . C O N V E N T I O N.
Madam President and Ladies:
Yon have frequently seen a long train pulled by two engines. The first one
d i d all t h e whistling the puffing and the bell- ringing and the second one just endorsed
the first. Mrs. F r i t s has given you both in her summary printed in our last report, and
in the F . W . I . C . report, which you have r e c e i v d at this Convention a very excellent
account of all Ihe important features of that Convention. She has been the first
eagne, and as the second engine, I have much pleasure in endorsing all that she has
However, as I was your guest at that Convention, it is only courteous that 1
should tell you how I enjoyed it all. Had I the ready wit and facile pen of our
Publicity Convener 1 could a talc unfold, which would make vou too eniov it all as
1 did.
From the moment that I arrived in Kredericton I was conscious of being in a
hmd of romance and history. It was as un incident snatched from the past to choose
" a carnage and p a i r " from the many that awaited the arrival of the train and thus
roll u p in state to the hotel. And such an hotel! It was most confortablc and home-
Hfce, with delicious meals and prices incredibly reasonable. And the fish! I have
never been partial to all foods, but the fish of the Maritime Provinces is food for the
gads. I know every Blue Nose i n this audience is now hungering for a boiled salmon
OB a bad of cress and garnished with lemon.
I n the centre of the city is an old cemetery. The tombstones date back for
hundreds of years, and arc blackened with age. " In this quiet spot, surrounded by
giant elms, in the heart of this beautiful city, sleep those early pioneers, whose