The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-05-21
THE CAUSE OF PEACE.
An Appeal to Christians, Individu
slly and Collectively.

slly and Collectively.
Ii is we'll known to our Christian
brethren that the Religious Society of
Friends has ever believed that all
war is entirely forbidden by the Cos
pei, and that, in accordance with that
belief, its members have, AS rule,
reirained from taking any part in car
nal warefare; and for refusing to com
ply with military requisitlons. or to
pay fines for thus refusing, many, in
Years past, have Suffered distraint of
goods 10 large amounts, and no: a few
have been imprisoned. Besides a
/ passive testimony thus borne by
members individually, the Society
has, from time To time, issued its
public protes, agains, this heather
and wicked custom
But while we have cause to feel
thankful for the anelioration Of mill
tary laws, whereby our members are
now generally exempt from suffering,
we are panied IN knowing that war,
with all its horrors, is vet allowed
and prActiccd bv all Christian nations,
and sanctioned by the larger portions
of the Christian Church. As Chris
| tlans, we all believe in the iuliillment
of prophecy. Dr. Chalmers, more
than fifty years age. testified that
The mere existence of this pr3phesy
of peace is a sentence of condemna-
,ion upon war, and stamps a criminal
ltv oa It's very forehead. SO soon as
Christianalitv shall gain full ascen-
dancy il the world, from that mo-
ment war is to disappear.
Believing that it is only by full
and proper application of the Gospel
in the affairs OF nations, as well rs in
divliuals, tina. the prophecies in re-
gard to war will be fulfilled: and be-
litving, AS branch of the Church
which has 50 long seen the true char
acter Of this heather abomination
that we were not doing all that We
/ should do to enligh,en our brethren
on this important subject, most of the
Yearly Meetings of Friends have
uni,ed in an organization of "Tht
Peace Association Of Friends il
America" to which is delegated this
important wotk, with instructions to
labor expressly ON their behalf in tn,
more general promotion Of the cause
Of peace.
The ass ,eation, IN the fultisllmen
OF It's trust, has thus far mostly con
fined It's lahors to the printing anc
circu alton Of books and tracts, ano
the publication of Il monthly paper
called the Messenger u pe"ce.-
During the few years Of its existence
IN Hons of pages have been distribut
ed far and wide. and many acknowl
clymerts have been received Of The
convincing effects Of the truth there
in inculcatcd.
The attitude OF millions in the
prime Of manhood, now kept con
st,ntIy armed and equipped for mu
tual slaughter bv the nations of Eu.
rope, and the sudden uprising of the
war spirit IN our midst, convince Us
of the necessity of further and more
direct effort to arouse and awaken
the public to a clearer appreciation
OF the true character Of this mon
strous evil. II i, is only by the ful
application of the Gospel that wal
can be abolished. surely it is the duty
of the Church to labor for its proper
application,
But, in view of the apathy that SC
generally prevails, we feel constrain
ed to appeal directly to our Christian
brethren, Individually and collective
", earnestly entrcating them to take
this subject into prayerful considera
,ion in all its bearings. Can we be
lieve that if the members of the
Christian Church everywhere were
entirely to refrain from taking part
IN carnal warcfare, that proicssedly
Christian nations could any longer
continue the custom? / we believe
tins, we must also believe that the
responsibility for the continuance O
Of war rests upon the Church. Dea'
fellow professors, can you rest salts
fled in continuing to bear the weigh
OF this awful responsibility.
While statesmen and publicists art
laboring to relieve suffering human
ty from the blight Of this dreadful
curse, the Church of Christ remains
silent. Surely it is time for it t.
arise from its slumber, aud to pro
claim its supremacy. Is not eigh
teen hundred years long enough
for its white robes, which should bt
pure and spotless, to have been stain
ed in blood. Must the skirts of the
visible Church be longer pulluted
with the gore of the battlefield, and
stained with the tears of the orphan
and the widow? While war, as ha
been said, seems to aim at setting W
the kingdom of Satan in the earth
alas. the Church remains to be it
very bulwark.
Surely it is time to W pc out thl
reproach against HIM, at whose com
ing into the world,peace on earth an'
good will to men was proclaimed ,ane
engage in this holy warfare agains
the supremacy Of Satan's kingdom.
Therefore, in behalf of suffering hu
manity, and in behalf Of the blesse'
Prince of Peace, whose mission o.
| n,r,k - NOT f,lEllal uhi1a wars con
tinue,-in true Christian love, "
again entreat you to give this subjec
the consideration it justly merits.
On behalf, and by direction OF tn
Peace Association of Friends l
America.
ROBERT l.. MURRAY,
President.
DANIEL Hill, Secretary,
New Vienna O.