David Sime Stiven: This sermon is headed simply ‘OPEN AIR’ 19/7/42.
It’ll have to speak for itself for I have no other context for it. It is in parts numbered 1 -4.
1. We made remembrance of the Allied Nations today and of the high cause for which they have set up their banners. And now as a fitting conclusion to the varied and quickening activities of the afternoon we meet together to ask a blessing from on high upon our united endeavors and the Power of the Holy Spirit welding us together in strong and united common action consecrate our common service and our common sacrifice. We have set up our banners. It is good for us to have such an opportunity as this affords to remember that it is the Name of God we have set up our banners.
2. What a host of flags are assembled here today! Think of all the nations which they represent. Men of all colours and of every clime have rallied round them. For all the variety of language, of thought, of custom, the cause for which they stand and fight is one.
On thing in particular distinguishes them all, without exception. Not one of the nations whose flag is here wanted war. So strong was the repugnance to it that the preparation for it was - as we all see now - foolishly ignored. Perhaps we shall learn by this lesson - this terribly bitter but unhappily not undeserved lesson - that war is not a thing to be avoided. It is something cruel, something foul, something beastly which we must keep at bay. We can hardly make the braggart-boast we made twenty-five years ago that this is a war to end war. But of this at least we are sure. This is a war against war itself and all the hideousness which infects the spirit of the war monger. We are fighting all of us against the power of the sword. We make clear and definite the declaration of our faith that there is in this world a Power higher than that of Brute Force.
We stake our lives on the conviction that there is a Principle in this Universe which has a better claim on our obedience than the arrogant bluster of Mechanized Might. As the early Christians put it in their simplicity. “We know that we ought to obey God rather than men.” And so the common cause is a repudiation and a withstanding of that which by men of goodwill everywhere is felt instinctively to be a degradation of the purpose for which we live in this world.
3. When we think of the allied nations, most naturally our thoughts turn first of all to the big powers :- to the immense latent power of the U.S.A. gradually emerging and hardening for the fight: to the U.S.S.R. exerting Titanic strength in epic warfare with the common foe: and with wondering pride we marvel at the miracle of human solidarity manifested by the far-flung dominions of our beloved King and Emperor. It is natural that those large and mighty lands should tend to fill the picture. But when we remember the common cause, and what it is, we should think also of the smaller nations who have given the same testimony as we have given to a common faith and have gone even further than we have gone in gallant and greathearted sacrifice.
I would have you therefore remember most of all today - Norway and Holland and Belgium and Luxembourg struck down without warning by a bully’s blow but still refusing to take the count: Poland and Checkoslovakia and YugoSlavia and Greece, warned of the hand of fate prepared for them but preferring death to dastardly dishonour: that indomitable remnant of French people who refused to bow the knee to arrogant oppression : patient China stabbed awake out of the sleep of centuries.
By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
'Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow! -
Let us do or dee!'
Burns 1793 “Scots Wha’ Hae”
They met the fierce and impetuous onslaught of machines with brave hands and brave hearts. Their fields were overrun their cities possessed their houses commandeered. Their bodies were shamefully treated in those concentration camps which have turned occupied Europe into a Ghastly Dungeon. But they remain unconquered. They wait - for us. We are indeed compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses.
They wait - till we are ready. Every minute - and every half-crown - we save, every extra screw we turn, every extra drill we do, every added lump of coal we hew or do without brings near the hour of our readiness the day of their deliverance.
4. This is the common cause. These are its martyrs to a faith in a purpose beyond us and a power above us in which commands and obtains reverence from simple men : an ideal for which men have given and we are ready to give homes, wealth, love, lands and life. That power that purpose that ideal has been declared in its mysterious perfection on a green hill far away where the Prince of Peace agonized and died and conquered.
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