The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-30
ARBITRATION
INSTEAD OF WAR.
The Protestant Church of the World
Ask the Presidents Influence
for Its Adoption.

WASHINGTON, Dec. "a delegation
presented TO the President to-day two
petitions, one from the great majority
Of the organized Protestant Christian
churches OF the world and the other
from the Pan-Presbyterian Alliance
Both petitions had been placed IN charse
of the Rev. DR.. William Henry Roberts,
the American secretary OF the Pan-Pres-
byterian Alliance and with him the KEY.
Wallace Radcliffe, and Rev. W. A. flt-
zer. OF Washington, ID. c., Rev. W. W.
Barr, OF Philadelphia, and Rev. j. T.
Drury. ID. d., Of New Brunswick, y. j
The first petition was signed by the
representatives Of l4J national Cenoml-
national churches, existing IN al the
six continents, viZ.-the Church or Eng
land. the Church of Scotland. twenty
one other churches in Great Britain and
Ireland: the general OF the Salvauon
Army. two churches in Belgium, two In
Switzerland, six in Holland, twelve IN
Australia, twenty eight IN the United
States, and sixty-four in other parts OF
the world, Congregationalists, Baptists,
Lutherans, Methodists, FresDyterians
and EpiscOpalians united in their APP
proval OF the petition.
i
armaments maintained by Christian ma
tions ready upon prOyocation TO go to
war and settle their dispntations by
bloodshed," and also requests the infu-
ence Of the Government OF the United
States in favor of International -arbitfa-
ton as a substitute for war.
The second petition Is from the PAN
Presbyterian Alliance, which also united
in the first petition and which includes
eighty national and denominatOnal
churches throughout the world.
This second petition asks for perma-
nent and peaceful method for the settle
ment of all controversies arising between
the people of the British Empire and the
United States OF America.
ORIGINATED WITH Us.
The delegation In presenting the petit
tions emphasized the fact that both
originated In the United States. the first
for universal disarmament In the year
1890. with the General Assembly Of the
Presbyterian Church, South. The dele
CATION also stated that they were not TO
be regarded as the advocates OF poll
icy OF peace at any price, or With main
tanning the opinion that was sinful
They quoted the Westminster confession
to the effect that civil magistrates may
rightfully now, under the New Testa-
ment, wage war upon just anu necessary
OCCASIONS" The President was congratu-
lated upon the results OF the rightful war
recently waged by the American people
in the cause OF justice and humanity,
and the Divine blessing was invoked upon
him as the man ordained OF God in a
greta crisis. In human histary. 10 be the
leader OF this people and also 10 be IN
strumental through both war and peace
for the in-bringing of Christs Universal
Kingdom.
The signers of the petitions represent
more than eighty millions OF Christians
In all parts OF the world. Twenty-Five
millions OF whom are Presbyterians The
President responded cordially 10 the del
egation. saying that he favored arbItra-
tion as between Great Britain and Ameri-
ca. He also said that he had responded
promptly to the Cars proposal for dis
armament. but that under present cir
cumstances the armaments 81 the United
States could NOT be lsssened. but would
In any event be less than would satisfy
European nations