21 NOVEMBER 1931, Page 46

[To- the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I must be one

of many of your readers who have found themselves forced to challenge the attitude adopted- by your contributors in the sixth article of the "Problems -of the Christian Conscience " series. Surely the participation of the individual in war- is, at best, the ". doing of evil that good may come," and the. teaching of Christianity has always been that this is too high a price to pay for anything, however good in itself.

Christianity may be ideal and sometimes impossible to live

up to, but if we lower our standards below those of the Sermon on the Mount, we may feel justified in so doing, but we shall certainly not be justified in calling our new standards Christian ones. Though I am aware that " the Devil can quote Scripture to his purpose," I think it is fair to put, side by side with your contributors' phrase, " So we have to serve Caesar as well as God " : the words of our Lord, " No man can serve two inasters,—ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

History repeatedly shows us that whenever Christianity has shaken hands. with expediency -the result has been igno- minious failure. If we must be expedient, for conscience' sake let us admit that the pale Galilean " has once more proved too great for -us.—I am, Sir, &c., The - Union Society, Cambridge. J. C. WAN SEY.