The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-30
PROTESTANT PETITIoNs
Presented TO the President Favor
Arbitration Instead OfWaF.


Arbitration Instead OfWaF.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Dec. IA
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-Presby yterian
Alliance. Both petitions had been plRc-
ed ia charge OF the Rev. Or. William
Henry Roberts, the American secre-
tafy OF the Pan-PreBbyterian Alliance,
and with him the Rev. Wallace Rad
cline and the Rev. A. w. Pit5er, OF
Washington, D. c.; Rev. w w. Barr,
Of Philadelphia, Pa, and the Rev. ]. B.
Drury, OF New Brunswick, n. ]. The
firHt petition was signed by the repre-
ssntatlyes Of one hundred and forty
i've national and denomlnational
churches, existing on all the six conti-
nents, viz, the church Of England, the
church OF Scotland, twenty-nlne other
churches In Great Britain and Ireland,
the general Of the Salvation army,
two churches In Belgium. two Ia Swift
zerland, six in Holland. twelve in Aus.
tralia, twenty-elght in the United
States and sixty-four in other parts OF
the world. Baptists, Congregational
lists, Lutherans, Meth0dists, Presbyter-
ians and Episcopallans unite in their
approval OF the petition. It asks for
the reduction Of the heavy ornaments
maintained by Christian nations,
ready upon provocntlon to go to war
and settle their disputatlons by blood
shed, and also requests the influence
OF tln, government OF the United States
in favor OF International arbitration
as substitute for war.
L.
Presbyterian Alliance which also united
eighty national and UNCONVENTIONAL
churches throughout the world. This
second petition asks for permanent
and peaceful method for the settlement
OF all controversies arising between
the people OF the British empire and
the republic OF the United States.
The delegation, in presenting the pc
tftlOns, emphasized the fact that both
originated III the United States. the
first, for universal disarmament, in the
year 1890 with the general assembly
6f the Presbyterian church south. The
delegation also stated that they were
not to be regarded as 'the advocates OF
4 policy Of peace at any price, or with
maintaining the opinion that all war Is
Sinful. They quoted the Westminster
lstrates may rightfully now, under the
new testament wage war upon just and
necessary occasions The President
was congratulated upon the results Of
the rightfui 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 or
dained OF God In a great crisis in hui
man history to be the leader OF this
people, and also to be inAtrumeptal
through both war and peace for the In
bringing Of Chrlsts universal kingdom.
The signers OF these petitions represent
more than eighty millions OF Christians
in-all parts OF the world, twenty-five
millions Of whom are Presbyterian y
The PFesIdens responded cordially
to the delegation, saying that he ia
vored arbitration as between Great
Britain and America. He also said that
he had responded promptly to the cEar's
proposal for disarmament, but that un-
der the present circumstances the ar
maments Of the United States could
not be lessened now, but would, in any
event, be less than would satisfy Eu-
ropean nations.