The Archbishop of Canterbury has just put out a prayer
to be 'used during this war, which has the merit of being strictly neutral and heartily pacific, but there will be difficulties felt by some in the use of it, nevertheless. "Inspire," it says, "the vanquished "with submission to Thy will." Does not that seem to pray that the vanquished shall acquiesce in defeat and be indisposed to fight, even though it might be in defence of their country and homes, as patriotism would teach them to fight? It is, at all events, a questionable form of prayer, and questionable forms of prayer are always unfortunate. Probably both German and French peoples are now praying with all their hearts for strength to pour out their lives willingly for their countries. Are we sure that we can properly ask for them that they should feel very much as neutrals feel,—which is in effect the spirit of this petition? For them at least, is it not the truest self-sacrifice to pray not that, when vanquished, they may submit, but that when van- quished they may not lose fortitude to strive again and again for the losing cause ? Beyond the general prayer for peace, we are not sure that these sort of prayers ought to go. How if the bel- ligerents are praying that God may guide the hearts of the neutrals not to keep selfishly aloof from this great struggle? 'They might have as good a right to pray that God would give us their enthusiasm, as we that God would give them that spirit of submission in which neutrals, of course, look upon any defeat.
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