Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1874-04-09
The Cause of Peace.

S,ni
The Cause of Peace.
It is well known to our Christian
brethren that the Religious Society
erer believed that all
war is entirely forbidden by the Cos
pei, and that, in accordance with that
belief, It's members have, as a rule,
refrained FROM taking any part in
carnal warfare; and for refusing To.
comply with military acquisitions, or
to pay fines for thus refusing, many,
in years past, have suffered distraints
of goods to large amounts, and not
few have been imprisoned. Beside a
passive testimony thus borne by MEM
bers individually, the Society has,.
from time to time, issued its public
protest against this heather and wick
ed custom.
But while we have cause to feel
thankful for the amelioration Of mill
tary laws, whereby our members are
now generally exempt from suffering,
we are panied in knowing that war,
with ali its horrors, is yet allowed
and practiced by all the Christian
nations, and sanctioned by the larger.
portions of the Christian Church. AS
Christians, we all believe in the full
6llment of prophecy. DR.. Chalmers,
more than fifty years ago, testified
that "Fhe mere existence of this
prophecy Of peace is a sentence of
condemnation upon war, and stamps
criminality on its very forehead. So
soon as Christianity shall gain full
ascendency in the world, from that
moment war is to disappear"
Believing that it is only by full
and proper application of the Gospel
in the affairs of nations, as we'll as
individuals, that the prophecies in
regard to war will be fulfilled; and
believing, as branch Of the Church
which has so long seen the true char
acter 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 organiza-
ton of "The Peace Association Of
Friends in America" to which is del
egated this important work, with in
structions to labor expressly on their
behalf in the more general promotion
of the cause Of Peace.
TIE Association, in the fulfllment
of its trust, has thus far mostly con-
fined its labors to the printing and
circulation of books and tracts, and
the publication Of a monthly paper
called the Messenger Of Peace. Du-
ring the few years of its existence,
millions of pages have been distribu-
ted far and wide, and many acknowi-
edgments have been received OF the
convincing effects of the truth there
in inculcated.
The attitude of millions in TIE
prime of manhood, now kept COLI
staatly armed and equipped for mu-
rtual slaughter by 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 efforts to arouse and awaken
the public to a clearer appreciation
of the true character of this mons.
trous evil. Ifit>is only by the full
can sIn Be be abolished, surely it is the duty
Of the Church to labor for it's proper
application.
But, in view of the apathy that SO
generally pr walls, we feel constrain-
ed to appeal directly to our Christian
brethren, individually and collective
ly, earnestly entreating them to take
this subject into prayerful considera-
ton 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 warfare, that professedly
Christian nations could any longer
continue the custom2s@Eawe believe
this, we must also believe that the
responsibility for the continuance Of
war rests upon the Church. Dear
fellow-professors, can you rest salts.
fed in continuing 70 bear the weight
of this awful responsibility?
While statesmen and publicists are
laboring to relieve suffering humani-
ty from the blight of this dreadful
curse, the Church Of Christ remains
silent. Surely it is time for it to arise
from It's sfuniuer, ana Co proclaim IT'S
supremacy Is not eighteen hun.
dred years long enough for its white
robes, which should be pure and
spotless, 70 have been stained IN blood.
Must the skirts of The visible Church
be longer polluted with the gore Of
the battlefield, and stained with the
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, alasl the Church
remains to be its very bulwark
Surely it is time to wipe out this
reproach against Him. at whose com
ing into the world, Peace on earth
and good will to men was proclaimed i,
and engag, in this holy warfare
against the supremacy Of Satan !
Therefore. ID bshalf Of .stE Suffering H
humanity an3 j la beha II J5sNd sjIN 81" c
OF the blessed Pflpce o. Ps;,es Yiisss T.
--,.;ar;;nr ON earth is NOT fflifitElnf while