New Britain herald., 1917-04-19
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Richmond, Indiana, April 19.- American Quakers are pacif1sts but not passiyists. according to state ment from the central office of the Fave Yaars Meeting of Friends in America, issued here yesterday by Walter c. Woodward. general secre- tary. The Friends may be expected to maintain their historic position against war, he declares, both as matter of principle and of policy. They are none the less loyal to the government and will be found doing their bit in ways consonant with their convictions. Attention is called to he roic and self -sacrificing service rem dered by English Friends in Belgium. France and Russia, as indicative of tho practical. constructive service that may be expected of the disciples of George Fox on this side of the Att lantic. \ nation wide organization of Friends toward this end Is projected. Mr. Woodward's statement follows:
 '.The friends in America enter viz 0rpus protest against the tendency in the present crisis to Identify pacifsn w16h disloyalty. There may be dis loyal pacifists. but we maintain that the history of Quakerism should place Its 13aciflsm above suspicion. We Friends arc pacifsts. but no passdv- ists. We believe all war wrong as 5a matter of principle and wrong as matter of policy; and must there fore refrain from bearing arms. We are 'conscientious objectors' but we are more. We do not propose to stop with objecting. Though against war, Friends are for the nation and hu- manity. for which they are prepared to suffer and to sacrifice. They are ready to prove their patriotism no less than thedr pacifism.
 .'As proof that this has been their record in the past, Friends point to their scourse through the Civil War. Though they could not as a body en- tor the military service, they rendered invaluable aid to the government i'm other ways and no people were re- garded as more loyal. In the present war, the English Friends. through various kinds of constructive relief work. both at home and on the con- tinent and financed and manned by. themselves, have commanded the re- spect and com1nendatio1, of the world. Their loyalty is beyond doubt.
 . ' kA0 B. u6IIOu&k1 OTYy341llzSAClOA.s W0 6E0 taking steps toward Quaker mobiliza- tion.' Tho young men of our coi- leges are being called upon. some for
 hospital service and for relief work. Others will serve in the fields of in- dustry and agriculture, yet others in the Young Mems Christian association at the front. A systematic canvass of the church will be made to secure adequate funds for various phases of war relief to be carried on both here and abroad. Since with them this work Is a matter of conscience, and since they cannot directly or indirectly participate in war, such service as the majority of them render cannot be performed under, the auspices of the military branch of the government. The fundamental doctrine of Quaker ism is that of the invfolability of the Individual conscience. We do not therefore presume to tell our mem bers what they shall do or not do, as individuals, but in the assurance that in the present as in the past.
 Friends will render their full measure of devotion we confidently pledge the Friends in America to this, their inn mediate task"