The Price of Peace
Words from Pastor John H. Woods
1943
As World War II raged around the
country, the pastor of Simpson Church urged the people of Charleston toward
peace. He called for an examination of
self in the search for peace. A column he
wrote on this subject was published in the Charleston Daily Mail on February 6,
1943. The following is excerpted from
his column:
“We usually
think of peace as it relates to freedom from war, confusion and national
disturbances. This keeps it in the
categories of collective goods and makes societies and nations responsible for
it.
We need to
study it from a personal and individual angle, because the things that destroy
peace are rooted deeply in the individuals making up a complex society. Without sounding like a defeatist, we just
as well realize that we come to face our task as apostles of peace with grave
odds against us. Because the very thing
we seek to overcome has to power to destroy the only thing capable of
eliminating it.
In our efforts
to do away with war, we are brought to an awareness that the war demon can only
survive on a diet of hate. We cannot
get around this. To wage an effective
war without inflaming the passions of hate is as impossible as it is futile.
Selfishness is
a barrier to peace. There are some
among us whose greedy palms itch for the blood money brought by inflated wages
and profits. Ignorance is one of the
most destructive things in our world today.
To be charitable, we say a lack of understanding is the cause of
war. Put simply, though, ignorance and
greed are at the bottom of it all.
The only remedy
for war and the only lasting aid to permanent peace is individual and national
application of the Golden Rule and the gospel of world brotherhood preached,
accepted and followed.
Perhaps the reason peace among individuals is not prized
more higher is because some associate is with cowardice. It is not always the brave man or woman who
strikes back, physically or otherwise.
A person may be physically brave, but morally a coward.
In these days of uncertainty and hours of anxiety, I call upon all of us to follow after the things which make for peace.”