Correspondence.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 275, 18 May 1918, Page 4

Correspondence.

(The Editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.)

(To the Editor.)

Dear Madam, It is with some pricking of heart that 1 read the letter of Mrs S. S. Page in your February issue. A Press Superintendent should have led on this «übject in the W.C.T.I .’s own organ. But 1 trust I am not too Ir.te o urge on every Union .in earnest consideration of the treatment of conscientious objectors in New Zealand and the alleged worse treatment they have received on board ship, and in the Knglish camps, with the terrible possibility of b*ing shot in France as disobedient soldiers. It may be that some few of our members themselves hold views as to the unlawfulness of taking life. Most of us certainly hold that the defence of home and country, women and children, calls a Christian man to warfare. But surely all of us hold that the call of conscience is sacred, although that call may differ to this one, and that, owing to psychological cause known only to our Creator. Is it, then, a light matter to Christian women that men, for the most part dutiful and honourable, ar* persecuted by law and authority in our country tor holding more* literally to the Sixth Commandment than the majority? Is it a light matter to New Zealanders that the New Zealand law, exempting only Quakers and Christadelphians from military service, is more unequal than the English law, which regards conscience even when divorced from the special dogma of any church? Is it a light matter to free citizens that men guilty of no c rime are herded with criminals here, and liable to be spirited away to be persecuted, or even shot, in Europe, without the knowledge of thcii fellow-countrymen? Must we revert to the ways of the Star Chamber, and make our own gallant soldiers the* minions of a new Inquisition. in order to win a ‘ righteous war”? Are we, who -tand no less for the rights of manhood than w,e do for the rights of womanhood, to see earnest young rnen, hoys in many cases, either broken in body, or worse still, broken in soul, because they do not see eye to eye with us ? Personally, I have no understanding of the conscientious objector’s point of view in regarding the wrongs of Belgium, the desolation of France, and indeed half of Europe, and th* fate that Prussian militarism designed for ourselves four years ago. But I do understand that neither honour nor blessing can attend persecution for conscience sake, even of abnormal conscience. Ere this is in print, I trust our Unions will have spoken on this matter. —I am, etc., JFSSIF MACKAY. March 11.