Nothing could be more dark or ominous than the way in which our beloved City entered upon the chapter of another year. 

Hatred, suspicion, rioting, and murder—these have left a deep wound which will take time and patience to heal. 

The citizens of Belfast who really desire the welfare of their city are unanimous in condemning the appalling series of crimes which have shocked and aroused the Public conscience. 

It is easy enough to apportion blame and then think that we have satisfactorily settled the whole matter ; or to shirk the disagreeable facing of facts, and say Peace, peace, when there is no peace." 

But surely it is wiser and more in accordance with the spirit of Christianity to condemn crime as crime, no matter by whom it is committed, and to seek as far as in us lies to dispel the poisonous atmosphere of passion, prejudice, and blood-lust. 

No sane person can calmly contemplate the foul and hateful deeds which have daily defiled the fair name of our City without being filled with apprehension for the future, Cold-blooded murder, the thoughtless hurling of death and destruction, robberies with violence, burnings and lootings—these things are but the outward symptoms of a deadly disease. 

In the body politic, which must at all costs be arrested if it is not to undermine and ultimately destroy the character of our city. 

Every City has a “character" of its own, and every citizen has his share in moulding and making that character. 

The happenings of the last few months, with the weekly—often daily—roll of outrages on life and property, call to us each one individually to use all the influence we have to make these crimes.

No doubt the almost entire failure to bring the criminals to justice, the sense of helplessness and insecurity, have led many to take the law into their own hands, and by a system of ruthless reprisals to stamp out the orgy of terrorism.

Such a plan of campaign could never succeed and does not deserve to succeed. 

A competition in murder and frightfulness would mean social and civil suicide, the arousing of passions and hatreds which are the very negation of Christian civilisation and the calling down of the wrath of a just and righteous God upon a land defiled with blood.

The argument of the pistol and the bomb may be very forcible, but it will never convince men of the reality of the great truth that righteousness, and righteousness alone, can exalt an Empire, a Nation or efeb a Free Stat. 

The practical question is of course how to interact and overcome those forces of evil which bind and hold men in the bondage of unrighteousness. 

Let us remember that every little helps. Leaders in Church and State have spoken strongly and definitely to the whole community, and have appealed to the well  disposed citizens to band together in creating a wholesome public opinion which will make possible a return to a sane, peaceful and prosperous state of affairs. 

Here is a common platform upon which all can stand without any disloyalty to their own religious and political opinions. 

Only a strong united effort to condemn murder, treason, felony, and such like offences against the laws of God and man can have the desired effect of re-establishing a respect for law and order in our midst. 

Irish politics are notoriously startling and changeable ; new leaders, new parties and new programmes pass across the stage of history with amazing rapidity, and amidst this bewildering fluctuation the Church has to keep the minds of her people fixed upon the things which really matter and which cannot be shaken. 

In a far seeing and statesmanlike letter to the Clergy and Laity of the Church of Ireland, the Primate points out the ancient and independent character of the Church to which we belong. 

Indigenous of the soil ; older than the Church of England ; inheriting her Commission, her Orders, and her treasure of Christian Truth from the Very beginnings of Christianity in this land. 

This is a great inheritance, and lest we should rest satisfied with enjoying '-the privilege without trying to rise to the responsibility, Archbishop D'Arcy uses these words : 

“We must remember that our duty as a Church is to our own country. 

Surely it is clear that, whatever happens, we must never cease to pray and work for the welfare of Ireland and for the people of Ireland. 

Further, it is our duty, whatever political order may be established, to go steadfastly forward with the work, which is especially entrusted to us, in the assurance that in the quiet doing of this work is the task laid upon us by our Divine Master ; and that, in the doing of it, we are also labouring for the restoration of confidence and peace Whatever happens, Ireland is our country and her people are our fellow-countrymen; and we are bound, not only by duty, but by all the ties that belong to the land of our birth, to do all that in us lies to help forward every movement that makes for the common good."