CONSCIENTIOUS V. CONSCIENCE-LESS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 7

CONSCIENTIOUS V. CONSCIENCE-LESS OBJECTORS

Sir—The' whole point of my letter in raplv-to "Clias. I's communication was that so-called conscientious objectors (Quaker and other) talio isolated scraps .from the Bible or from "sayings" attributed. to Jesus, .and regardless of context or occasion when "said," use them as a justification for what is really' 4 conscience-less objection to war, whou undertakon in a righteous cause. The entire spirit of the Bible and of the teaching of Jesus is "for" righteousness, cost what it may in human life even, and "against" peace at any price, where moral issues and righteousness are at stake. I challenge "l<'air Play" to find a'single statement in the Bible— not to say in the sayings of Jesus—that can justify a so-called conscientious objector- in standing by, while the innocent are butchered to make a German military holy-day! The nation or individual that would, or could, fail to come to the help of, the Lord, under Such circumstances, may well bo regarded as absolutely conscienceless. To think otherwise woula.be to bring all religion, and reason itself, into contempt. I was well nware that the statements-. "I come not to send peace but a sword," etc., should be interpreted in the light ol' their context; but let your so-called conscientious objector cite a single "text"' from the Biblo that, in tho light of its context, justifies conscientious objection to war (or to fighting, and even killing) for a righteous cause. —I am, etc., H.M. July .Hth, 1916.