The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-30
ATROCITIES SHOULD
HAVE BROUGHT PROTEST
New York Ncthodists Vote Confidence
In President. But Think We should
Have Resented SaYagery.
NEUTRALITY a DUTY
America May Safely Trust Itself TO Try
Christian Experiment of Christian
Disarmament, Says New YORK Con-
ference.

New York March 2g.-The NV DIRK
conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church at toda!s session II the ralit-
Avenue Church adopted unanimously a
report by "A committee, hepdsd b. Chan
eeller DAY, of Syracuse UntssFst' de-
clarinE confidence in rresidgDt Wilson.
but questioning whether thu United
states should have remained slItnt on
thu wars atrocities
Before n vote was taken II hop
Cranston said II was his belief that
any attempt by the Church to interest
the belligerent nations In peace pro
posals would he without result untH
there WAS u complete unity In the
Church Itself
The bishop was of the opinion that
the Church had not done its full duty.
and ventured to suC gest that one rea-
son for the failure OF President VIII
sons appeal to the nations for peace
might b. thus expla ur1.
Chancellor Day's report of the state
OF the country was in p1rt
Must Pay Fart of rihut~.
I'VE are contributing American blood
to Europc's tattiefelds. w shall have
10 pay our toll wtnn the cost is figured
up. II lS impossible for us to escape
II share of the awful tribute.
1T will not be paid alone in the
assessments upon Germany. England,
France. Russia and brave little Bel
GUM. Theirs will be the greater toll,
but the neutral nations all Will have
30 help bear the burden.
1T is, therefore. An hour when
Americans should pray for peace In
Europe. when we should put ourselves
among our brothers whose brains are
crazed by tho thunders of war. and
ya-ho blinded blood
OF battle.
our president Is under RESPONSE
bility that calls for wisdom He must
be reinforced by the loyalty of the
whole people without regard to party
or creed. No more critical and delicate
situation has confronted any presi-
dent of the United States since the
days of our great Cival War
Absolute Neutrality Plain Daty.
Absolute neutrality. as near as pos
sible in all things. is our plain duty.
Men and women VIII hold Intense per-
sonal opinions, and feelings. but wise
men and women will guard against the
expression of them except In plain
moral issues
Whatever may be our respective
sympathies, we viii appreciate the pro-
found obligation that is upon us to
refrain from contributing for the pur-
the sustenance of the armies In war
fare.
"A calm. thoughtful. considerate at
titude of impartiality upon the part
OF our great people. q reserve Of con-
fdence in our president and hts assis-
tants In authority. will give US a safe
anchorage In any rushing tide of feel
ing and passion, due TO what we may
Justly consider an invasion of our
rights as Il neutral nation,
A Time to Have spoken.
We question. however, whether our
country was Obliged by neutrality to
remain silent when women and chill
drep were being slain in unfortifed
villages and towns. by reckless and
indiscriminate bombardment without
warning,
We fear that we have not done our
duty in protesting vigorously against
such wanton savagery in civilized war
fare upon the part OF any nation.
Was II not our peaceful opportunity
and our high duty to protest attack
on carrying ships by submarines Of
any nation, and against the dropping
OF bombs upon defenseless homes from
any warshps of the air? We make no
criticism OF our president. and we APP
preciate the delicaey OF tho whole sit
uatton.
Our great country is strong enough.
and is so providentially ordered that
we may safely try the Christian ex-
pertinent of Christian disarmament
We venture no peril II we trust our
serves to the armor OF the Christian
faith"