Hints for the Study OF “The Fight for Peace” This leaflet of suggestions, questions, and topics is pre- pared for use by classes^ studying the “Fight for Peace.” That this study may be valuable and interesting to all, each member of the class should read by way of preparation the chapter for the day. The student will find it helpful to mark his book both for the outline of the chapter and for striking passages. During the preliminary reading questions and topics that suggest themselves should be noted. The class leader should ask three or four members a week or more in advance to prepare themselves to discuss, in not more than five minutes, some single topic or proposition con- nected with the lesson of the day. When the appointed speak- ers have completed their remarks let the class enter upon voluntary discussion of the subject matter of the chapter, each speaker being limited to a single point and occupying not more than three minutes. The leader might ask individuals what they think of this point or that assertion. Reserve ten minutes at the close for a summary by the class leader. Let him not merely summarize the chapter but also the reaction of the class upon the same. Possibly the leader might prepare in advance a brief writ- ten summary and find out whether or not the class supports his statement. The class leader should have for supplementary material a copy of the source book, published by the Federal Council of the Churches, entitled “Select Quotations on War and Peace.” The reading to the class of pregnant sentences from the many authors quoted in this source book would add much to the value of the study. For a convenient and not too ex- tensive bibliography of peace literature see the appendix of “The Peace Makers’ Manual.” Each church should procure the “Model Peace Makers’ Library,” described in the appendix of the “Peace Makers’ Manual,” and each member of the class might well be asked to familiarize himself with the contents of at least one of the volumes and be prepared to tell the class the position taken by its author upon any particular question that arises in the discussions. SUGGESTIVE TOPICS AND QUESTIONS CHAPTER I. 1. What are the main elements of the new era of human history ? 2. Show how all past human development has been pre- dominantly divergent. What are the main causes of the origin and differences of races and civilizations? 3. Is the fundamental characteristic of the new era to be “convergent evolution”? Of civilizations? Of races? 4. Describe Japan’s synthesis of the two great streams of civilization — that of the East and that of the West. 5. What other important elements of the new era need consideration besides those described in this chapter? (e. g. world trade ; world finances ; world postal system ; world news and telegraphic system; etc.) 6. Describe the New Asia and show how this introduces a new factor into international relations. CHAPTER II. 1. Distinguish the primary from the secondary causes of the European tragedy. 2. Is over-population in Europe a real cause of the present war? 3. Is developing national and racial self-consciousness a vital factor in the European situation? What reconstruction in governmental procedure does this require? 4. Describe the militaristic theory of national evolution. 5. Does might ever make right? Does right ever justify use of might? 6. Is the rejection gf Christian faith by large masses of the educated classes one of the causes of the European tragedy? CHAPTER III. 1. Sketch the history of the Peace Movement — its origin, its aims, and its efforts. 2. What Peace Congresses have been held at the Hague and with what results? 3. Distinguish the principal varieties of peace advocates and describe their characteristic arguments and emphases. 4. Does Christian Pacifism necessarily demand immediate disarmament ? 5. What are the essential elements of Golden Rule Inter- nationalism? CHAPTER IV. 1. State the paradox of Christendom at war. 2. Name three causes for the failure of the churches to establish permanent peace between the nations of Christendom. 3. Name three other causes. 4. Are there other fundamental causes for the failure of the churches of Christendom to overcome the militaristic theory and practice of so-called Christian nations? 5. Is it the duty of the Church to grapple with militarism ? If so, who is responsible for beginning and carrying on this work? 3 CHAPTER V. 1. Describe the first vision (p. 5). Is it a reality? Are empires and nations actually seeking to establish their places in the world through force? fraud? etc. 2. Is this first vision and effort confined to kings and emperors? How about the rank and file of men? 3. Describe the Second Vision (p. 6). Have men in the past and are there men now really guided by the vision? Name some. 4. Is the vision of Golden Rule Internationalism utterly vain and foolish (cf. p. 8). CHAPTER VI. 1. How may each local church take an effective part in establishing and maintaining world righteousness and world peace ? 2. What responsibility do individual Christians have in these matters? 3. Criticise the suggestions of this chapter. 4. Describe the Peace Makers’ Movement of the American Branch of the World Alliance of Churches for Promoting International Friendship (cf. The Peace Makers’ Manual). 5. What suggestions have you for increasing the efficiency of the Peace ^Makers’ ^Movement? CHAPTER VII. 1. What is the peculiar danger to democracies in their international relations ? 2. How are democracies to be educated and directed? 3. Describe what is being done for peace education by the School Peace League. Get facts from its office (40 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston). 4. Find out and describe what is being done in the Sunday schools in the line of peace education. 5. Find out how many churches, women’s clubs, or other organizations are making a definite study of the peace question. 4 CHAPTER VIII. 1. Give a brief sketch of recent Mexican history. Have .Americans been helpful to Mexico, or have they been exploit- ing it for selfish ends ? 2. What has been the attitude of the various classes of Mexicans toward Americans? If distrustful and controlled by animosity, why ? 3. Describe the five suggestions of this chapter for winning Mexican confidence and good-will. 4. Are they practicable? What are the objections? 5. Suggest still other ways for winning Mexican friendship. CHAPTER IX. 1. Sketch recent history of American relations with China. Name the striking points of our helpfulness. 2. Describe our treatment of Chinese in United States, (cf. Professor M. R. Coolidge’s Chinese Immigration). 3. Describe our treaty with China and the way in which we have not observed it. 4. State the judgment of the Supreme Court. Should that which is morally wrong be accepted as good law? 5. Describe the new China and what it implies for the future in world politics. 6. What is the essence of our Asiatic problem? 7. What are the principal suggestions of the chapter as to a solution? 8. What other suggestions have you to offer? CHAPTER X. 1. Sketch Japan’s recent history, particularly her trans- formation since 1868. 2. Describe the essential features of Japan’s complaint of .American treatment. 5 3. What was the view of Senator Root? 4. Describe and criticise California’s alien land law. 5. What is meant by the “White Peril”? Is it a reality? 5. What is meant by the “Yellow Peril”? Is it a reality? (cf. The American Japanese Problem, by Sidney L. Gulick, Chapter XII-XV). 6. How are Asia’s teeming millions to be raised in eco- nomic moral and religious life? CHAPTER XI. 1. What are the laws governing biological assimilation and inheritance? 2. What are the laws governing social or psychological assimilation and inheritance? 3. State these two kinds of assimilation and their laws in the clearest possible contrast. 4. Is either kind of assimilation dependent on the other? 5. Give concrete illustrations from personal knowledge (cf. also the American Japanese Problem). 6. What will Christians with race prejudice do in heaven? CHAPTER XII. 1. Describe the immigration policy proposed in this chapter ; (1) The Limitation of Immigration. (2) The Registration of Aliens. (3) The Education of Aliens. (4) The Naturalization of Aliens. 2. What legislation is needed for the federal care of aliens, and why? Describe Mr. Taft’s proposals and the reasons he gives. 3. What effect would the proposed legislation have on our relations with Japan and China? 6 CHAPTER XIII. 1. Is the yellow press a real menace or only an irritating nuisance ? Why ? 2. Compare the evils of a press absolutely free with those of a muzzled press. 3. Do we have a really free press now? 4. Do we have real and honest newspapers, or only organs for the creation of definite kinds of public opinion ? 5. Consider the suggestions offered for securing a more wholesome press. Are they practicable? 6. Do you have other suggestions ? CHAPTER XIV. 1. Name some of the suggestions as to ways for producing international good-will. 2. Criticise them. 3. Suggest other ways of winning good-will from those nations that are inclined to distrust us. CHAPTER XV. 1. Sketch the history' of Protestant missions in China and Japan (cf. Encyclopedia of Missions). 2. How have Christian missions been furthered by treaty guarantees ? 3. Describe the check to Christian missions, due to invasion from Christendom of her materialistic science, agnostic philosophy and evil practices. 4. Describe the paradox of Christian interest in foreign missions with the indifference of the churches to international relations that are un-Christian. 7 CHAPTER XVI. 1. Decribe the types of pacificists. 2. Is a Christian of necessity a Tolstoian pacifist? If not. why not ? 3. Should the churches of America advocate disarmament by the United States regardless of the state of the rest of the world ? 4. What are the dangers of increased military prepared- ness — to ourselves — to our neighbors? 5. Should we demand to know definitely who are our dangerous neighbors and prepare against them? 6. Consider other kinds of preparedness than military and naval expansion ; e. g., ways that make our neighbors trust and admire us. CHAPTERS XVII AND XVIII, 1. Sketch the history and circumstances of the establish- ment of the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship (cf. The Peace Makers’ Manual). 2. What is the special contribution that the churches alone can make to the establishment of world peace? 3. Can peace ever be established by means that are easy, and that cost little or nothing? 4. Are members of this class ready to volunteer for the war upon war ; to drill and work and suffer as followers of the Prince of Peace?