CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 248, 8 July 1918, Page 6

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Sir,—l read with very considerable interest your recent report of Bishop Sprott's addrsss ro the conscientious objector. Will you kindly grant me some of your valuable, space for the quiet and serious expression of some further views, which will throw, I bust,- additional light' on this much-vexed question. These views havo not been sufficiently aired, but I believe they are the true one 6, and .it all events are worth serious consideration. , The best things the Bishop said, to my mind, wore in the latter part of his address, and there he said some very good things indeed. In. the. former part of liis address. I think ho somewhnt overemphasised the individual's indebtedness to tho community. Undoubtedly the individual is indebted to the community for niUjiy things, I>ut let us not forget that even tho community does not originates blessings. Back of both the individual and tho community stands the great Primal Source, tho Giver of all things. As the good old Book puts it: "Every pood gift and every perfect gift is from above, anil eonieth down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James i, 17). Now, a great fact, is this, that though the individual is indebted to the State or community for many things, and owes it certain duties, which tho real Christinn will always gladly and conscientiously perform (Romans xiii), yet, nevertheless, there is a God-ordained limit to the authority of the community, for this reason: 'There aro some, rights that are not State or conununity-given, but GodRiven, and consequently inalienable, and not subject to jurisdiction by the State. Such a right is conscience. The civil authorities are well called in Scripture the "higher powers" (Romans 18), but, mind you, they are not tbo "highest" power. The State or community has a great, well-defined, and lawful sphere, but its jurisdiction is seriously over-step-ped so soon as it enters tho realm of conscience. Confronted with the demands of the community, and what he conscientiously believes to be Ms duty to God (a much higher Power), the individual must, and can, only exclaim with Peter of old, "Wβ must obey God rather than men." Acts v, 29. Like the three Hebrew worthies, euch individuals must refuse compliance, though the human law be backed by the lordliest kingly power, and supported by the general conscience of a powerful nation, and the furnace fires await on refusal; like Daniol, they cannot yield, even though death be the only alternative; like the individual early Christians, whose conscience conflicted with the general conscience of the Roman Empire, and brought down relentlessly upon them the severe penalties of the Roman laws, they must quietly persist; like the monk Luther, standing out against the general conscience of the augist Diet of Worms, they can only exclaim: "Here I stand; I can do no other. May God help me. Amen." It is doubtless true that the community has also a conscience, and no attempt must be made to forcefully interfere with this, and as far ae I am aware, no such attempt has been made. It would be ]uet as wrong for the individual to coereively interfere with the conscience of the community as it is for the commun. ity to endeavour to force the conscience of tho individual. When it comes to the rights of conscience, Sir, human majorities do not count at all. The conficience of a single individual ie as sacred as tho consciences of a whole community, or nation, or, indeod, the whole world Tho community ie really not doing its duty as tho guardian of God-given rights, unless it safeguards the individual conscience as zealously as tho general conscience. For it ! s the prime duty of the htate to protect God-given rights, not to mvade them. It is not , at all a question of the conscience of the individual against tho conscience of tho community. Both have their place, both are answerable to God, and must be left free and unshackled. Any interference or coercion by one eide or the other is wrong. And let us remember, as Luther hinted, that it is possible for a minority consisting of only one person to reallr be a majority. ' Should the conscience of the community attempt to coerce the individual conscience it undertakes a proposition beset with tremendous difficulties. No State or community can really afford to coerce the individual conscience. For years I have been a student of history, and have noted- especially the rise and fall of na\\ord; I have bestowed some thought on the causes of decay of nations in the light of Bibl» principles: and I am protoimdly impressed that one of the great reasons of the decay, .decrepitude, and fmlmo of many once great nations and dynashes has been intolerance-oppres-.6loll of conscience. Among the sins of the great Apocalyptic Babylon, which will lead o its aw ul ruin are a gross materialism and slavery of conscience, for in her will be found "the souls of men"-en-elavecl consciences. Rev. ST iii 13 r nrmly believe that one of the irreit secrets of the greatness of Britain; and of tho existence of her far-flung Empire, lies m the freedom of conscience she granted to all her peoples. She cannot now afford to change her policy This war is more than a war of muniions The repented days of prayer and »* l%nl cnlls to prayer all prove the need ot Dmne assistance. Tot one of tho conditions the Almighty Himself has imposed concerning the answering of such ditys ot prayer and fasting is thisThat ye undo the heavy burden, and o let the oppressed go free, and that vo brake every yoke." (Isainh lviii.) Freedom of conscience is a condition of full blessing, victory, and freedom for the community. Provision has wisely been made by the Government for what is known as the religious objector." A little better provision could probably be made for tho ['conscientious objector." Here America is far in advance of onr own Government. Thus President Wilson, in an Executive order published in the "Official Bulletin" of March 22 last, offers the "conscioiitioiH objnetor"—the Mian not belonging to any non-comlm'.iint rlmrch—the choice of a large number oC different lines of service. To iinfiio a few: Medical Corp wurl; \yhe:-e\<T performed. This includes sanitar.i service, hospital service in the United Stales! supply and repair in the medical department, etc.. "Any service in (lie q nar . tnrmaetor's corps in the United States " Also (in tho rear of operations), bakerv companies, bathing service, laundry service, salvago service, veterinary hosiiials, etc. "Any engineer service'in the United Slate." Also (in roar of operations) roan-building and repair, construction of wharves and storehouses for-1 estvy service, etc. It is only tho'man who refuses to do anything at nil that is regarded as a shirker, and is confined but. not in a penitentiary. ,, —I ftm ' etc., ■ "' A. L. KING. 87 Eden Street, Island Bay. , ;