CHAPTER VII.
VICTORY AND PEACE _Toi qui nous apportas l'epee_-- _Le glaive de Justice_-- _Et nous ordonnas de l'acheter_ _Fut ce an prix de nos tuniques,_ _Toi qui renversas les tables des marchants_ _Installes sous Tes portiques,_ _Donne a nos bras la foi et la rage a nos coeurs_ _Afin que la Victoire couronne de fleurs_ _Le front de nos enfants._-- EMILE CAMMAERTS, "Priere Paques," 1915.
A few still perhaps remain of those who, as under-graduates at the time of the Franco-German War, remember Dean Stanley's first sermons after many years of exclusion from the Oxford University pulpit.

Using in one of them his favourite plan of giving life to ancient literature by modern illustrations and conversely making modern tendencies clearer by references to ancient thought, he took the words of the Hebrew prophet, applying them to the troubles and strife of the time.

"Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah ?" What will emerge from the bloodshed of war and the chaos of communal revolution?
The answer was given--"It may be, it must be a united Germany; it may be, it must be a regenerate France." Truly it has been a regenerate France that, with firm resolve and calm courage, has suffered and withstood invasion, far different from the France which in 1870 went to war with light heart, excited and unprepared, anticipating easy victory.

War shattered the Empire and the true soul of France was found.
Well might the "Song before Sunrise" again greet the purified France:-- Who is this that rises red with wounds and splendid.
All her breast and brow made beautiful with scars?
May we soon be able to add the conclusion!-- In her eyes the light and fire of long pain ended, In her lips a song as of the morning stars.
The prophecy in both parts was fulfilled.

Germany did indeed become united, united not only by closer political ties between all its divisions, but united in its aims and in its methods, conscious of union and of strength, marvellous in its power of organisation, fitting each member into his special position in the consolidated state, and moulding him for the place he was to occupy; drilled from earliest youth how to act and how to think, his commonest acts done, and very gestures made, according to rule.