The Dominion SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1916. THE RIGHT TO FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 4

The Dominion SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1916. THE RIGHT TO FIGHT

A very considerable sect-ion of the junior clergy of the Church of England are not at all satisfied with the decision English Bishops that they ought not to join the Army as fighting men. The matter was considered soon after tho beginning of the war, and it also received a good 1 deal of attention during Lord Derby's recruiting campaign. The agitators for the right to fight were probably glad to get a_ circular letter from Lord Derby calling upon them to enlist, as it raised hopes that the urgency of the call might induce the Bishops to withdraw the prohibition against enlistment. But tho Bishops stood firm, and the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to Lord 'Derby, stating that they saw no reason to depart from the advice and direction which they made public in September, 19i'4j to the cffect that "solemn ordination to the ministry of word and sacrament is not/consonant with combatant service in the field." But the junior clergy—at ftny rate a large number of them— evidently decline to accept this decision as final, for ■ a cablegram which appeared in The Dominion a < few days ago stated that no fewer, than a thousand of them have asked the Bishop of London to allow them to go to the front as combatants. The Bishop of London'has played a noble part in connection with this war. He has done splendid recruiting work. He has spoken his mind with much force and freedom. He has not hesitated -to declare 'that the Empire is waging a "holy war." Id a recent speech ho said: "With all the- horror tp-day, ■ far rather would I be standing here with somo of my best friends dead . in the I trenches', than with England not involved, Belgium ravaged, Franco desolated, and England not stirring a linger. I should feel ,an unchristian traitor." If this is indeed a "holy war" for us; if we are-really fighting for justice and freedom, and against a nation which has violated the laws of God and man—why should not a clergyman fight? There is an ancient rule of the Church that forbids the clergy to shed blood. But this prohibition does not appear to be based on any fundamental moral principle, but on a general sense of the fitness of things. The underlying idea seems to be that military service for the' clergy is one of the things that may be lawful,- but not expedient. The Bishops do not go so far as to say that it is actually unlawful for clergymen to fight. They know that it would be a dangerous thing to set up two standards of moralityone for the clergy and another for the laity. If it is lawful for a lay-1 man to shed blood in a righteous war, then a clergyman may do the same without violating any fundamental moral dictate. The moral law is no respecter of persons. Tho Roman Catholic view appears to be that it is contrary to ecclesiastical order for a priest to become a soldier. It is not immoral, but irregular, that is, a departure from the ordinary rule. In France the clergy are not exempted from military service, and there are hundreds of sol-dier-priests in the French Army. The Pope has made a definite pronouncement regarding tho position of these men. It is to the effect that the Sacred Penitentiary "grants permission to soldier-priests engaged in acts of war to celebrate Mass and to administer tho Sacraments, notwithstanding the irregularity they may incur as fighting men." The French soldier-priests have given the world a new ideal of tho Christian soldier. They have set a high example. They arc absolutely steady and fearless, and inspire confidence among their comrades. They arc exercising a great influence for good. Scores of them have died for their uuunU'y, iuul ijuitu it mimljei' have bcoa nominated for tho Legioa

of Honour. The Aiibe Jean Eejiillieux, who was fatally wounded during an assault ou the German trenches in June last, was a typical priest-soldier. We loved Lieutenant Remillieux (writes his colonel) like a younger jbrother; his men respected and adored him, his character as a priest making him all the dearer to them. He was tho Providence of the regiment (testified a brother officer who used to servo his Mass). There was no sorrow he could not comfort, 110 fault he did firmly but kindly reprehend, no example of courage and self-sacrifice lie did- not daily give \vith a smiling face. Believers anil unbelievers all respected him. Poor deaT friend, what a splendid pago JlO has added to the Livre d'Or of the French clergy. Second lieutenant of reserve (says General Joffro's order nominating him to tho Legion of Honour) he had shown from the beginning of the campaign an exceptionally fine -attitude. Wounded 011 September 4, 1914, and returning before completely cured, he distinguished 'himself by his spirit, his high character, and his absolute devoted ness. A priest of Lyons, 110 exercised uncontested authority over his men and led his section to the attack with splendid dash. Grievously wounded oil the night of June 19-20, lie was to tho last moment an example for all. From the Nonconformist point of view there is 110 insuperable reason why a minister should not take part ill the war as a combatant. The Free Church correspondent of the Manchester Guardian states tha't "so far as the moral or conscientious aspects of the case go, one might say that' in the Free Churches the minister stands .very much where the layman stands." The Rev. Professor David Smith, a regular contributor to ths British Weekly, speaks his mind very plainly in the course of his roply to .a. correspondent who thought of enlisting, but was tpld by two ministers of religion that lie ought not to take part "in training to kill another." Professor Smith writes:—

; I I'ave said already, and I say it again, thai, tha sorest vexation of my life is that J. fiin 'unfit; at this horoie crisis; else I would have enlisted fifteen months ago, and would now be in the fighting line or under tho sod; and if I felt otherwise I would bo a craven ami a traitor to mv country and my God. This war is, to rov mind, a conflict between Christ and Antichrist, and the tallt you quote io advocacy of the devil. That is my .deliberate judgment. ( The Council of tha Baptist Union of Great Britain has placed on record its conviction that "the vocation of the Christian ministry docs not preclude a. minister from sharing, should his conscience •so dictate, the common clangers and services of his fellow countrymen." As a matter f a £r' a number of Anglican and Nonconformist clergy are at present in the fighting lines of the British Army. Queensland's famous lighting parson," Mr. - Sams, was killed in Flanders. Another Anglican clergyman, Dr. La Touche, a distinguished writer and scholar, lost his life 111 action at the Dardanelles. Dr. La Touche overcame every obstacle of ill-health, and, starting as -a private, he rose to tho rank of second-lieutenant. He thought it would be a grand thing to got his commission from tho ranks, and his wish was realised before he was slain by a Turkish bullet. So many Canadian clergymen have applied to join tho 85th Nova Scotia Battalion that the' commanding officer has authorised the formation of a section, or if a sufficient number is available, a platoon, which will be entirely composed of clergymen. In view of these facts it is not surprising that many of tho younger clergy in England are demanding the privilege of fighting for their country. Yet the attitude of the Bishops is by no means indefensible. The call for chaplains is seriously depleting the ranks of their clergy, and the Archbishop of Canterbury contends that the clergy can render the best service to the nation at this juncture by discharging duties in their parishes which no one else can discharge, and this at a time when such ministry is called for and valued in a peculiar degree. Lord Derby admits the reasonableness of this point of view, and _ has publicly stated that Tie recognises to the full the great extra demands that are made, upon the services of clergy of all denominations—partly due to- the fact that many are serving abroad as chaplains, and partly to the demands of hospitals, both abroad and at home, for their ministrations. The great principle of national service in war time is that every man should .serve tlie State in whatever capacity he can do tho most useful work. Personal .inclinations must be set aside. The safety aud wellbeing of the nation should be the supreme consideration.