Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-04-14

a regard for religion, would be almost as ig-
nominious as 10 refuse a challange."
The British poet, Southey, nolwithstand-
ing he had eulogized the heroes Of his native
land, was constrained TO speak in terms of
high commentator of those who refuse to
fight; and he declares that 1.-THE prohibition
Of war by our Divine Master, is plain, lite
raj, and Wdeniable."
The Bishop of Llandaff, already quoted,
says, 81 I'M persuaded that when the spirit
Of Christianity shall exertils proper influence
over the minds Of individuals, and especially
over the minds Of public men in their public
capacities, over the minds of men constituting
the councils Of Princes-whe zen this happy pc
riod shall arrive, war will cease throughout
the whole Christian world"
Now, if it be true that-"The dispositions
which lead TO war are absolutely forbidden
by the Gospel"-if lilfy "are quite abhorrent
10 the benignily of Ehristianity"-i if war
- introduces and pr9pogates opinions and
practices as much against Heaven as against
earth"-if it " lays our natures and our man
ners as waste as our gardens and habiiations,"
and renders it as difficult to preserve "the
beauty Of the one, as the integrity Of the 9th
er'-if "thete is not a virtue Of Gospel good
ness, but has its death-blow from war'-if
it is productive Of "~profigacy, libertinism,
and inEdelily''-if all this be tune, should
not all who arc seeking to promote the
present and eternal warfare of their lel-
low men, unite in one great and untiring
Effort TO abolish-to Danish from the earth,
this cruel, demoralizing, and destructive
scourge!
A state of universal and enduring peace
even if, as some suppose, il is to be accom-
plfsltpH hy "a enori.I i1tar,netsior ,T niyi,,
Providcrc', at some remote period of time
is "A delightful theme to contemplate.
We, also, believe, in accordance with pro-
phccy, that it will arrive; but, we believe
that it will be a result Of individual faithful
ness. We fully unite in the opinion with
the Bishop Of Llandafr, that peace will be-
come universal " whenever the spirit Of Chris
tianily shall exert its proper iniluence"-and
we have shown that Christianity did produce
it, in an earlier and purer state Of the Church
SO far, at least, as Christianity prevailed.
II, then, peace on earth be looked to as an
end and an aim of our holy religion-is not
each individual believer called upon 10 cult
vate in himself, and endeavor TO promote in
others, those feelings and that course Of con-
duct wr.ch are calculated TO produce this
blessed effect!
We have ven;ured especially TO reques,th the
attention of those who have assumed the re-
sponslble station Of ministers and teachers of
the Christian religion, to this subject; be-
cause, whatever affects the character of this
religion, or opposes its progress in the world,
seems peculiarly to claim their notice. And
we would suggest, that the fact of our coun-
try being at the present time engaged in war,
furnishes a strong reason for entering into a
careful examination of the evidence respect
ing the lawfulness Of war under the Gospel
disTSnsation.
May we venture TO ask whether those pa
cifc principles by which the Church in the
apostolic age-and, indeed, during the first
and greater part of the second centuries, was
so remarkably distinguished, are inculcated
by the Christian teachers Of the present day,
with that clearness and ~lulness, TO which they
are justly entitled
Even those who do not fully unite with us
in The belief, that " war is unreservedly prohi-
bited by the Christian religion" must admit
that, besides the misery and suffering it pro-
duces-it is highly acknowledgement that
il eminently tends to retard the progress of
vital religion among men-and if so, the glo-
rious theme Of 'peace on earth" should not
fail to find devoted advocates in all who are
sincerely seeking to promote the present and
eternal welfare of their fellow-men.
We are aware that when the public mind
is strongly excited, it may require great mo-
raj courage, and a deep and abiding sense of
duty, TO enable the pastor to stand firmly at
his post, and advocate the noble cause OF
peace. But these are occasions when, by
reason of the position he occupies, his con-
slant intercourse with the people, and the in
fuence he exerts upon their feelings, he may
by restraining, or by giving a right direc-
ton to the popular iInpulse-beconIe %inslru-
mental in Fastening the day when righteous
ness shall cover the earth, as the waters COW
eT the sea.
In conclusion we would ask attention to
one view of the subject of war, which COM
mends itself with awful solemnity 10 the con-
sideration of all, and with peculiar force to
those we are now addressing. We refer TO
the ultimate-to the unseen consequences of
war-to the iaal state of the myriads ofspir-
its, disembodied it is greatly 10 be feared,
while under the influence of the most fero-
ciouS passions, and sent uncalled, into the
world OF righteous retribution.
The reflection is awful indeed-and must,
we would fain hope, command the most Sc
rious attention;-and by producing a firm
conviction of the utter incompatibility of war
with the meek, forgiving and peaceable spir-
it OF the Gospel, lead to increased and ear
nest efforts to eradicate from the earth this
scourge to the family of man.
If, then, the fruits of war be anguish un-
speakable, and bitterness in the latter end
how strong-how powerful is the claim up
Oh our efforts TO oppose il, and restore the
Church TO the state of purity in which il
stood in the primitive period of its existence!
May the Lord in his mercy hasten the day
when this shall be eflected;-when nation
shall no longer lift up sword against nation,
and the people shall learn war no more; but
the kingdom of this world shall become the
kingdom of the Lord, and of his Christ.
Signed on behalf and by direction Of a Nee
ting Of The Representatives @he Religious
Socieiy Of Friends, ghe Yearly Meeting 9j
Nep York, held in The city Of Nsw Fork,
the All Of First month, 1913.
RICHARD CARPENTER, C2erk.