Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-12
PEACE MOVEMENT IS
ENL|ST|NC CHURCHES
Fellowship OF Reconciliation Being
Formed Among All Glasses
and Races.
INDICTMENT OF CIVILIZATION
Hold All Internal and External En-
mites. OF Which War Between Ma
tons Is Result, Due to Failure to
Apply Ideal OF Brotherhood.

Apply Ideal OF Brotherhood.
NEW YORK. December ll.--Mcu and
women of all classes and races are
entering: into the international move
ment for "a fellowship OF rcconclia-
ton. which has spread from warning
Europe TO the United States. Follow
ing Il recent private conference at
Garden City. Long Island, called after
AN English leader had spent two
months i'm ascertaninr opinion here.
q group is being formed. with the
first centcrs in New York. Boston and
Philadelphia. and with about seven
ty members AS the nucleus for the
growth Of The fellowship in this
country. These people hold that all
the internal and external cnintics. Of
which war between nations is con
sidrred - natural and incvitahl. re-
suit. constitute "A plain indictment OF
civilized nations for failure to apply
the Christian ideal OF brotherhood in
the actual conduct OF affairs. and that
action on this ideal offers the only
practical way TO escape an increasing
confusion of conflicts. waste and blood
shed.
The members. therefore. declare
themselves unable 10 take part in any
war or training for war. as denial
Of Christian belief in the force of love
They are uniting to attempt work
OF reconciliation between classes ana
nations, ana TO attack the problems OF
substituting the spiri, OF brotherhood
for autagonism Ia social. commercial
and national life. The fellowship IN
cludcs wage workers and people OF
wealth. members OF every profession
bankers and business men. labor lead
crs. Socialists and political conscrTa-
tives. members OF orthodox evanEel-
cal churches and others who have not
been associated with any church. Since
it's starting in England less than a
year ago. it has taken root In other
foreign countries. both neutral and at
war. and also in India. The numbers
have grown from the small original
group to several thousand.
UENtrION AGAINST
DOMINANT WAR SPIRIT
Abroad, where the movement hhd
it's rise as reaction against the dom
uant war spirit, the members have
carried on It's work in the face OF mis-
representation. suspicion and occa-
sionnl violent persecution. largely be-
cause Of fear Of any reaction against
rccruiting Some have had TO give up
positions in business. in church. in so
cal service ana in educational inStl-
tutions because OF opposition I" their
convictions. Others have made vol
untary readjustments Of personal and
business life. which they felt neceS-
sary to express the spirit of brother
hood Acceptance of risks and ma
tcrial sacrifice To uphold the ideals of
the fellowship are claimed to have
proved important factors for it's wider
extension and appeal. It's membership
is being spread by the direct method
Of personal action.
The general statement Of principles
Of the fellowship in America says in
part:
"H'hc fellowship OF reconciliation is
al ", ,,p n
belonging 10 various Christian com
munions. and OF others who have al
hcrcd to no cOmInunioE, who are pro-
ioundly disturbed by the confused ut
tcrnnce OF the Christian churches cor
corning war and other great social
questions 70 them il appears that.
in accepting AS inevitable the present
world order, we have all failed 10 i'm
terprct the mind Of Christ, and that our
confidence n Ills leadership involves
us in an uuflinchinS application Of Ills
rcvo!uiiouarY principles of love. Thcy.
therefore. feel the need of uniting in
spiritual fellowship with those in AL
lands who hold that az disciples Of
Christ they are committed to the en-
dcavur after u way of life dominated
by love as revealed in His life, teach
mss and death. and that they are
therefore unable 10 take part in war,
and are called To a common quest af-
with the mind OF Christ.
DESIRE. To WORK. IN
AND THROUGH CIiURCIIES
Though they find themselves ut vori-
ance with many OF their fellow Christ
iUns, they desire 10 work where posi-
Die in ANA through the churches, to
proclaim their conviction in spirit
Of humanity. honor and love. 10 "xcr-
else forbearancc IN argument. and to
guard against the danger OF conttO-
versnl methods. believing that the
members of the fellowship are but
few out al many. both in this and other
lands. who are seeking TO know and
act Oh t!,c truth at this time
Aftor prolonged thought and confer
1ncc. without wishing TO bind them
selves To nny exact form OF words, they
""yu~,I.i ,h.i" ".rr!al a.icvr,ui on
the following points.
That love, as revealed ana inter
nretcd In the life and death of Jesus
Christ. irvolvcs more than we have vet
seen. that ii il the only power by which
evil can he overcome" and the only suf-
r"i,nt basis for human society.
That, in ordcr Ia establish u world
order based on love. II is incumbent
upon those who believe in this prin-
ciplc TO accept ii fully. both fer them
selves ana in their relations TO others,
ANA 10 take tho risks involved in doing
so in world which does not as yet
accept II.
"That. therefore as Christians. we
are Torbid'iG TO wage war, and that our
loyalty to bur country, TO humanity, 10
the church universal and to Jesus Christ
our l.orI the Master. calls us instead to
life service for the cnthroncmcnt of
love III personal, social. commercial
national and international life. with All
that this implies
That the power. wisdom and love OF
4 90 - f,.t 4
our present experience. ant that iIo Is
ever waiting TO break forth into nurcan
life in ucw md larger ways"
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