The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-05-31
Redfeld S. D.
May 20, 1917.
Editor Citizen Republican !.


May 20. 1917.
Editor Citizen Republican:
In your valuable paper under date
of May "a is an editorial censuring
Seventh day Adventists for being non
combatants, in which the following
statement is made: "A fitting reply
to this rusilanimous statement would
be summary withdrawal of all rights
and privileges of American citizen-
ship
feel sure that you do not appreci-
ate the sentiment of noncombatants.
They love their country as well as you
do and pray for it's rulers and those in
authority, and live quiet and peacea-.
BILE lives. Have you considered the
injustice Of such an action as you sug-
gest and how it would affect some of
our best citizens? It would mean to
deny citizenship to the society of
Friends, Mennonites and Seventh. day
Adventists. These societies bear at
least fairly good record for in
tegrity, honesty, sobriety and up
rightness.
During the dark ages the sacred
rights of conscience were not regard
ed, and God fearing people were de-
MED the rights of citizenship on ac-
count of their religious belief, but
have we not outlived those days of
bigotry and persecution? Is it pos
sible because the people of the above
named communions believe in the
words of the Master, who said, Thou
shalt not kill; and whosoever shall
| kill shall be in danger of the iudg-
ment;;" Matt 5 :21. 'sPut up tby
sword. they that take the sword shall
perish with the sword.'' Matt. 26:52
and my Kingdom is not of this world.
IT my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants fight, that i
should not be delivered to the Jews. -
Jno. 1886 If His servants would
be justified in fighting it would have
been for the deliverance of their
blessed Master
At recent conf ference of the Sew
enth-day Adyentists of the u. S. they
submitted the following memorial:
That we recognize civil government
as ordained of God, that order, JUS
tice, and quiet be maintained in the
land, and that the people of God may
lead quiet and peaceable lives in all
godliness and honesty In accordance
with this fact, we acknowledge the
justice of rendering tribute, custom,
honor, and reverence to the civil
power, as enjoined in the New Testa-
ment. While we thus cheerfully rem
der to Caesar things which the Scrip
lures show to be his, we are compelled
to decline all participation in acts of
war and bloodshed, as being incon-
sisrent with the duties enjoined upon
US by the divine Master toward our
enemies and all mankind. We heart
lily affirm the foregoing declaration.
We petition that our religious convic-
tlons be recognized by those in author.
lty, and that we be required to serve
our country only in such capacity as
will not violate our conscientious
obedience to the Law of God as con-
tanned in the decalogue, interpreted
in the teachings Of Christ, and exem.
plified in his life. "
Since setting forth the above, there
has been connected with cur training
schools, instruction and drills along
the lines of Christian help work and
our young men are training for Red
Cross work. Why? Because to
minister to the suffering and afflicted
IS to save life and not to destroy it.
1t is doing the same work, that our
blessed Master did, who went about
doing good, and who says, "It is
lawful to do well.'
By way of conclusion will quote
the words of the Father of our Coun-
try to the effect that Every man
who conducts himself as good citi-
zen is accountable alone to God for
his religious faith, and should be pro-
tected in worshiping God according to-
the dictates of his own conscience. ,,
Yours for loyalty and
good citizenship
c. w. Rubendall.