Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-04-26
Need Not Bear Arms.
Law Exempts Members OF Ger.
tain Religious Creeds From
That Duty Only.

| to exist against Germany Dy Lnls country
and more especially since the taking of
the military census, members of the
Church of the Brethren from here and
elsewhere in the county have filed ex-
emption papers with the Clerk of the
Court at Frederick. Many of our people
have been wondering why members of
the Church of the Brethren should be
exempt from military service.
Elder H. C. Early, one of the Editors
of The Gospel Messenger, the official
| paper of the Church of the Brethren, in
issue of April 2lst. says:
"At the request of the Brethren from
different sections of the Brotherhood,
committee, consisting of I. w. Taylor.
w. J, Swigart, Henry Gibbel ard H. c.
Early, went to Washington, April 10th,
in the interest of exemption from mill
tary service for the Brethren and nom
combatants.
In conference with congressman it was
learned that the war bills, now pending
before Congress, provide for exemption
from bearing arms by those who are con-
scientiously opposed to it. The follow
ing extracts are from the Senate bills,
and speak for themselves:
That members of any religious sect
or organization, now organized and exist
ing, whose creed fo,tids its members to
bear srms in war. shall not be required
to undergo training in the bearing or use
of arms, but shall be trained in the nom
combatant branches of the military or
naval service
THAT any person, liable for military
service, under provisions of this Act, who
shell be accepted and called out for such
service under this Act. and who shall I'M
der oath declare that he is conscientious
ly opposed to the bearing of arms, and
is prohibited from so doing by the tenets,
rules and articles of faith of any now ex-
listing religious denominati n to which he
belongs, and who shall prove, by salts
factory evidence, that his conduct and
department have been uniformly consis-
tent with such declaration, shall be en-
ployed on such duties, not involving the
bearing of arms, as the Secretary of War
may direct
1.-THE committee on Military Affairs,
in whose hands the bills are at present,
is composed of 81 members,-a large
committee members of the commit
tee, to a man, stands for the exemption
provision. 1t has also the support OF
President Wilson and Secretary of War
Baker, besides general support in both
branches of Congress, so far as we were
able to learn conditions. So it seems
practically certain that it will become a
law.
1.-THE provision of the bills, exempting
those from bearing arms who are con-
scientiously opposed to it, seems clear
enough and sufficient, but such persons
may be subject to such other duties. not
involving the bearing of arms, as the
Secretary of War may direct, such as
the cultivation of crops, laboring in mines,
oil fields, ETC., and may possibly be press
ed to the extent of service in munition
factories, and such like, yet it gives re-
lief from bearing arms and training
therefor-the thing noncombataants can
not and will not do. Other non
combatant churches, such as the Friends
(Quakers), Mennonites and others, have
had delegations before the men of Con.
gress in the interest of exemption from
military duty"
The Church of the Brethren, as re-
Zig ious body, does not believe in war;
rather suffer unjustly than take part in
war or bloodshed, and members thereof
are supposed to abide by the following
laws of the church, the same being a
part of the certificate to file with their
exemption papers or later:
"Nnt to go to war, nor to learn the art
of war;" has been one of the conditions
of membership of the Church of the
Brethren from its beginning, over two
centuries ago.
1.-The Minutes of the Conference in
1871 'exhost in union all brethren in all
places to h old themselves guiltless, and
take no part in war or bloodshed.'
1.-THE Conference in l785 clearly de-
clares that the Church of the Brethren
cannot see or find any liberty to use any
(carnaD sword
During the Civil War of the sixties
the members of the Church of the Breth-
rem not only did not take part in the
struggle then, but tried only to do good
unto all men.
cat the General Conference held at
Winona Lake, Ind, June 8 to Is, 1916,
the Church of the Brethren again declar-
ed herself on the same subject in the fol-
lowing manner: The church reaffirms its
position in favor of peace, even at the
cost of suffering wrongfully, if need be,
and its unalterable opposition to war and
bloodshed. under any conditions of prov
ocation, and all preparation for war as
one of its primal teachings, maintaining
that all disputes, national or information
al, not settled by those involved, should
be submitted to committee of arbitra-
ton as the highest and final appeal of
nations. >"
According to the above statements,
about all the military service member
of this church is relieved of is military
training and the carrying of gun. If
called on to do other service in battle,