The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-04-01
Az dI1'EAL ON BEsy4LE' or THE
CAUSE OFlsEACE.

& ~
CATSE OFFEACE.
1t 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 Gospel, and that, in accordance With that
belief, its members have, as q rule. Retained
from taking any part i, carnal warfsrcs and
for refusing to comply with military zequisit-
ions, e. 70 pay fnes. For thus refusinxt m4px,
IN years past, have suffered diatlaiut IL eubgIs
to largo amounts and not few Iiay6 beau In
prisoned Beside a passive testimony thun
borne by members individually, the Society
has, from time to time, issued its public pro-
test against this heather and wicked cnstom.
But while we have cause to feel thankful
for the ameliorafion Of military laws, where
by our inemItrs are now generally exempt
from sufferings we are panied to know that
war, with all its horrors, is yet allowed and.
practiced by all the Christian nations, ard
sanctioned by the larger portions Of tho
Christian Church, As Christians. we all be-
lieve in the fuifllment of prophecy. Dr. Chal-
mers. more than fifty years ago, testified that
"Thc mere existence ofthis prophecy of peace
is sentence of condemnation upon war, and
stamps criminal,ty OH its very forehead. So
soon as Christianity shall gain full ascenden-e
cy in the world, rom that moment war is to-
disappear"
believing that it is only by a full and prop
err application of the Gospel in the affairs Of
nations, as well as individuals, that the proph
ccies in regard to war will be fulfilled and.
believing, as a branch of tho Church which
has SO long seen the true character Of this
heather abomination, that We were not doing
all that we should do toward enlightening our
brethren ON this important subject most of
the Yearly Meetings Of Friends have united
in the organization of ssThc Peace Associa-
ton of Friends in America, /" to which is dele
gated this important work, with instructions
to labor expressly on their behalf in the moro
general promotion of the cause of Peace.
The Association, in the fulillment Of its
trust, has thus far mostly confined its labors
to the printing and circulation of books and
tracts, and the publication Of a monthly pa
per called the MEssENoEIs OF PEACE. During
the few years Of its existence, millions of pa
ges have been distributed far and wide, and
many Acknowledgements have been received Of
the convincing effects Of the truth therein in
culcated.
The attitude of millions in the prime Of
manhood, now kept constantly armed and
! equipped for mutual slaughter by the nations
OF Europe, and the sudden uprising of the
= war spiritin our midst, conynces us of tho
i necessity of further and more direct efforts TO
:, arouse amt awaken the pubfic to y cicufor up
: probation of the true character Of this mon
strous evil. If it is only by the full applica-
ton of the Gospel that war can be abolished,
surely it is the duty Of the Church to labor for
its proper application.
But, in view Of the apathy that SO generally
prevails we feel constrained to appeal directly
to our Christian brethren, individually and
collectively, earnestly entreating them to take
this subject into prayerful consideration in all
its bearings Can we believe that if the menu
bcrs of the Christian Church. everywhere were
entirely to refrain from taking part in carnal
warfare, that professedly Christian nations
could any longer continue the custom? If
we believe this, wo must also believe that the
responsibility for the continuance of war rests
upon the Church. Dear fellow-professors.
the weight Of this awful responsibility
While statesmen and publlcists are laboring
to relieve suffering humanity from the blight
of this dreadful curse, the Church Of Christ
remains silent. Surely it is time for it to arise
from its slumber, and to proclaim It's suprc-
macy Is not eighteen hundred years long
enough for its white robes, which should be-
pure and spotless, to have been stained in
blood? Must the skirts of the visible Church
be longer polluted with the gore of the battle
| field, and stained with tho tears of the orphan
and the widow? While war, as has been
said, seems to aim at setting up the kingdom
OF Satan in the earth, alas the Church TO-
mains to be Its very bulwark
Surely 1t is time to wipe out this reproach
against Him, at whose coming to the world,
Peace on Garth and good win to men was pro-
claimed, and engage in this holy warfare
against the supremacy of Satan's Kingdom
Therefore, in behalf OF suffering humanity,
and in behalf of the cause Of the blessed
Prince of Peace, whose mission on earth
is not fulfilled while wars continue,--in
true Christian love, we again entreat YOU
to give this subject the consideration it Justly
merits
On behalf and by direction of the Peaoc
Association of Friends in America
RoBERT /. MURRAY, Pres't. "a
New York,
los ! i DANIEL Hill. sec'y,, New Vienna, o.
.'a8 1850 Cincinnati, o. us
Office of the Association, New Vienna,
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