Markham Shaw Pyle

Congress and the War Power: Thoughts on a Constitutional Problem

As the 36th Congress of the United States ended and again as the 37th began, there were vacant chairs: more and more by the day. This was a fortunate thing for the incoming administration and the incoming President, who as a result gained outright control of both Houses of Congress. And gained something more—and moreContinue reading “Congress and the War Power: Thoughts on a Constitutional Problem”

The Moral Calculus of War

Politicians—like every man jack and woman jill of us—are inherently motivated primarily if not wholly by their own several self-interests … precisely as are the most ostentatiously and performatively pious, peace-preaching lefties. This does not change the moral calculus of war. Anyone who denies that is a fool, a liar, or, of course, both. TheContinue reading “The Moral Calculus of War”

This is Texas Independence Day.

May all nations and peoples likewise have one.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus. Now do the little things.

The 28th February is, when it is not a leap year, the feast day of S Oswald of Worcester, Bishop and Confessor: Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York. He was of an Anglo-Danish family from the old Danelaw—his uncle Oda was Archbishop of Canterbury and his kinsman Oskytel preceded him at York—, living andContinue reading “Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus. Now do the little things.”

A look at how properly to observe Independence Day.

Because hubris—particularly in the achievements of others, and not of oneself—is no true patriotism, a few quiet, Anglican words from the ’28 BCP on the proper observance of US Independence Day, brought to you by a thorough conservative.

Repent ye…

I am grieved, disgusted, and enraged by the murder of two—of two more—young Israelis, as I am by all the evils going unchecked in this day: the assailing of Israel and of the Jewish people not least, whom the Almighty shall doubtless vindicate and avenge in accordance with His ancient promises and which wickedness weContinue reading “Repent ye…”

Magnificat

Today being a red-letter feast day, that of the Annunciation, I pop by to check up on y’all before resuming my Lenten silence. And, as I’m here, let me remind you that, although we are to pray daily for our various heads of government, that does not mean we pray that their policies, aims, ambitions,Continue reading “Magnificat”

Another day, another Ambush By Handel.

Quiet, ordinary Saturday, week of the Third Sunday after the Epiphany … and what are the Lessons appointed for Mattins on this unremarkable day of the Kalendar? Oh, only the following from Messiah HWV 56: I.5-6 (‘Thus saith the Lord’ with its ‘The Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple’, and thenContinue reading “Another day, another Ambush By Handel.”

‘For all the saints, who from their labours rest’:

Every day has its saint—commonly a right smart of them: including this, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. The Anglican Kalendar is more parsimonious than is the Roman, or the Orthodox, so far as red-letter observances go; but every day has its saint. Between—for example—, and inclusive of, 15 to 23 January, there are amongstContinue reading “‘For all the saints, who from their labours rest’:”

The heresy of entryism

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered : let them also that hate him flee before him. —Ps. lxviii, Exsurgat Deus. Today is the Feast of S Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop & Confessor. A patron saint of lawyers, writers, and controversialists, Hilary stands for—and ought to be emulated in standing for—the principles thatContinue reading “The heresy of entryism”