PORTSMOUTH - They gathered to celebrate the end of a war in another
century and on another continent, in a time when their own peace and
security are under siege.
The yearlong commemoration of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth,
negotiated here and ending the Russo-Japanese War, neared its
conclusion Sunday night with a peace service at Christ Episcopal
Church. The service, presided over by the Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson,
Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, used the same text and music as the
original peace service in 1905, also held at Christ Church.
The Rev. Daniel L. Bernier, vicar of Christ Church, conducted
the service, assisted by the Rev. Deborah Shipp of the First United
Methodist Church and the Rev. Dawn Shippee of North Church, UCC. Alexis
Zaricki directed the music, and Nicholas Zaricki was trumpeter. The
choir consisted of members of area churches.
The same bell that rang at the signing in 1905 called the
faithful to worship in 2005. The bell was rescued from a fire, which
leveled the original Christ Church on Madison Street in 1963.
A triptych "peace tablet" installed in Christ Church in 1907 to
commemorate the event did not survive the fire. Robinson dedicated a
reproduction peace tablet as part of the service.
Robinson told the worshipers, "We always celebrate great
moments in history, especially those that bring peace on the earth.
This is a wonderful event."
Robinson praised the people of Portsmouth, in both eras, for
their attention to this cause. "We have a byword in the diocese," he
said. "We want to have ‘infinite respect for one another and radical
hospitality to the world.’ What better example than hosting the Treaty
of Portsmouth? It’s a wonderful thing that you can claim as your own."
But Robinson warned that manmade security is an illusion. He
played off the New Testament Beatitudes, the "blessed are" series of
Jesus’ words read by Bernier as part of the service. He said that while
the Beatitudes say, "blessed are the peacemakers," they also point to
others such as the poor, the reviled and the persecuted as being
blessed. "When we are in these dire straits, it’s then we know our need
of God," he said.
"Who today would be ‘blessed’?" he asked rhetorically. "The
people in New Orleans; in Biloxi; the soldiers in Iraq; the insurgents;
the refugees. They have no illusion they’re in charge of their lives."
The need for security is "what we wage wars over, what we
elect presidents over," Robinson said. "But neither Bush nor Kerry can
bring us security. Real security comes from our life in God."
He ended his sermon by urging his listeners to take risks. "Let’s be peacemakers again, not war-makers," he said.
