Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-13
war IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Slaughter Condemned bS
Bishop Coleman
IN A SERMON AT ST. ANDREWS
Said it Is Unjustifiable and
Merciless.
Tho war Can Only be Excused on the
Ground of the Filipinos Being Our Enc
mics, and Some Better Way Might 20
Found for subduing Them Than is Found
in Their Extinction.

Bishop Leighton Coleman on Sunday
expressed his opposition to the war in
the Philippines. which he characterized
as an uniustifiable and merciless
slaughter The bishop was preaching
in st. Andrews Church, on the text,
Hebrews 10, l3, Henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool,
and led up to his reference to the war
by speaking of the value of human life.
"This Eastertide, said the bishop
in effect" is pre-eminently the season
of life Christ in His death and resur-
rection has shown us His exalted esti-
mate of the value of human life. No
other gift of God can for a moment be
compared with it as to worth.
''We must not, therefore, suppose
that He is expecting to make His
enemies His footstool by killing them.
This would not comport with His own
declaration as to the very purpose of
His incarnation l am come that they
might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly.'
"And yet among His ayowed dis
ciples how great lack there is of any
thing like His appreciation Of the value
of human life.
eve need not go very far to find
illustrations to this effect. For the to
me unwarrantable, merciless and un-
iustiflable slaughter now going on in
| the Philippine Islands under the
| authority now at the command of our
own at least nominally Christian gov
ernment, we are writing a page of our
great country's history, which it will
be very difficult for even the most
enthusiastic American to explain and
Justify. l trust that | am not lacking
in the loyalty which the nation has a
right to expect from every citizen, but
] would rather be accused of lack OF
patriotism, than by holding my peace
seem even to approve OF the Wholesale
destruction of the lives of those poor
people in their own homes. | am first
Christian, then, an American, and l
| prefer to be consistent with the princi-
Piles of Christianity than from mis-
taken idea of patriotism to justify a
war which practically now appears to
be war Of determination.
"The present war can only be ex-
cused on the ground of the Filipinos
being our enemies. 1t would. | think.
be difficult to prove their deserving the
name of enemies. And even though
they were our enemies, surely some
better way might be found for sub.
DUNG them than is found in their ex-
tinction.
''Is not life as dear to them in theil
own homes as it is to you and Others
elsewhere?
'A Chinese emperor once started or
a campaign against some OF his re.
bellious subjects by saying, And now
We go to destroy our enemies Nc
sooner did he come near them than he
gave them distinguishing marks of his
favor and loving kindness. And wher
some of his impetuous soldiers said
'We thought that you had determined
to destroy your enemies, rather than t.
show them these acts of kindness, he
replied: Thus l have really destroyed
my enemies, for / have converted then
into my friends Ii some such polio,
as this recommended to us though i
be by a heathen ruler, were pursued b.
our nation, should we not come mucf
nearer His example, who destroys Hi
, spiritual enemies-you and l included
among them-not by destroying ou
/ life, but by means of His love ant
, grace ESQ especially manifested in Hi
resurrection restoring to us the gif
, of eternal life?
, This comes to us from Him through
channels and means OF His own Gle
vising and injunction. Ore of them
, confirmation, is now to he offered t
, you again today, and it is especiall
appropriate that this rite should b
administered at Eastertide, inesumcl
as had He not risen, the Holy Ghos
Who is especially given by the layin
on of hands-would not have come
, Again, life must now be predominant
) in our thoughts, for tho Holy Ghost !
! the very giver of life.
{ Following the sermon, the Rev. L
! W. Batten, Phi. D., acting rector Q
I the church, presented II persons fo
( confirmation, the bishop administerin
{ the apostolic rite. In addressing tn
class, the bishop gave as the contirma
s tion class text, Psalm NLVI, !, $50
t is our hope and strength, u very pres
t ent help in trouble. =
$ An instruction concerning the hol
$ communion, will be given by DIR. Bat
i ten next Saturday evening.
o A meeting to organize the men
q Bible class, to be started by DR.. Bal
g ten, will be held next Sunday after
noon at O'Clock. The hours for SCI
vices in the church will be changed
beginning next Sunday, the mornin
!, service to start at IL o'clock, and In
-