The Detroit times., 1916-11-18
Quaker Leader Tells of
Outrages In
Britain
CENSORSHIP HAS
SUPPRESSED NEWS
Indignation Meeting Is
Held In Phila-
delphia
ey THE RELIGIOUS RAMsLsR.


America FOR several months past
that despite Britains famous re
Iigious liberty, and despite ih"
specific exemption of conscientious
objectors from provisions of The
transcription act, The lot oi
men holding 20 the historic
Quaker principles of nonmDiiar-
tam has been growing harder
and harder. Now this body -
information on The subject has
grown SO definite that the case was
formally presented. few evenings
ago, before remarkable meeting
Of both branches % the Society Of
Friends In the historic meeting
house NJ Fourth and Arch-sts. Phil
sdelphia. The statements made
there by the foremost ngure IN
American QuAkcrism. are Of IA
turs to shock American public
orlnion-
That $500 conscientious object.
crs are either IN prison or awaiting
arrest is news that has not gotten
into the American press The cen
sorship has kept II from leaking
out. All Britishers who come 20
America are obliged TO take oain
not 10 talk about the war its
c@usss. its course, or its consumTna-
tion. This not only applies 70 gov.
srnment ofHoihls (Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, the British ambassador. has
not appeared at a public function
since the war began but also 20
private citizens There is one curl
Gus exception A Quaker cannot
bind himself not 20 speak IN meet
ing: for N led BY the Spirit TO do 81.
be must obey the inner voice T'hat
n why some Friends meetings have
heard. from the lips OF eye-wii-
nesses. the most sensational stories
that have been told concerning ron
dltiens within The British empire
There have been a number of Brit
isb Friends In America of late in
ciuding some members ~ pariia
ment and OF the nobility
Letters from unwilling victims OF
the conscription act have also been
smugglod past the censor and
money Is also being sent by an III
derground route from America FOR
the RELIEF OF the families of con
soientious obIectors
Quaker are not sensatIonalists
As Of old. their sea Is yea and their
nay Is nay 80 & is matter Of
the gravest import when eminent
Friends ray that their coreligion-
lists IN Britain have been dragged
thru the street by the heels, until
the blood has gushed from n0strils
mouth and ears. that many others
have been "cruciGed" on Tho wheel
that men have been bureted, beat
en-. stripped, imprisoned in solitary
X confinement on bread and water.
sentenced 20 % shot. and. oren.
y Forced without training 20 the battle
& front In France. where failure 70
N nsht OF obey orders becomes mo.
Tiny, and punishable with lmmedi
nte death. These statements I
have received from various weliin.
formed Friends. who have IN some
cases told me. conhdeutially. their
sources OF information
Prof Rufus NJ. Jones. ~ Haver.
ford college. who is probably the
most influential leader ~ American
Quakerism. made presentation o,
tho case AZ the joint meeting o,
Orthodox and Hicksite Friends a,
tho Fourth aud Arch.st. meeting
house. exhibiting original docu
ments. The large company of per
sons pressnt Indicated that present
day Quakers are still vitally inter
ssted IN concerns OF conscience
Without quoting Dr. Jones' words.
summarize his statements
Most oi Tho Friends IN britain
of military age. have gone into vari
ous dangerous forms of iife.savin,
service. such as ambulance worl
and manning the minesweepers
Many. Il Is admitted. have felt con
strained 10 Join The army itself
Between $500 and 5000 young mer
remain who feel that 20 accept al
Tentative service az n is called
under military government. is &,
\ tcmpromiss Win their conscience
Among these the reported outragcl
have occurred Under miliiar, rule
~ course, dlsohodlencc 10 orders
sven by conscientious ohieci1r
h tecowes cvim' of hrsl gravity.
n ~ least one death has already
nteRrrcd ls said. because o.
tlhlary harshnoss with pscihsis
<he particular instance which stir,