Haileybury's memorial to the fallen of the First World War was the Hall. The inscription reads:
To the Glory of God and in proud remembrance of 577 Haileyburians who served in the Great War and were faithful unto death this hall was built by their comrades in arms and others who loved the school.
Ye who come after them forget not their sacrifice. Claim as your heritage a portion of their spirit and in peace or in war take up their sword of service. So shall the living and the dead be for all time bound in one fellowship.
The Greek inscription translates as "We lift up our hearts on our hands to the Lord."
A long time ago I heard a sermon in which the preacher enjoined us to understand that Christianity challenges a world which exalts the the survival of the fittest with the example of the sacrifice of the Best. It is all too easy to romanticize the suffering of war, which is so often in general and in particular an exercise of the survival of the fittest. Yet for all that, the example of self sacrifice so often shines out of it, cauterizing the wounds of conflict with the fire of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment