Palisadian., 1917-05-05
Palisade Minister
Says Christianity
Doesn't t Sanction War
Palisade Minister Says Christianity

Palisade Minister Says Christianity :.
Those who have been patiently
waiting for Rev. Marion J. Bradshaw,
of the Palisade Union Church to de-
clare himself on the question of
Americas war with Germany, did
not have anything to guess at last
Sunday. He explained at the begin
ming that the subjects he had been
treating bore directly upon his at
titude, in that they discussed the
meaning of Christianity, and what it
means to be Christian. He asserted
that there were SO many contradic-
tions and negations in the Christian
religion, that if one is to take it
literally, there are many roads to fol-
low, and many problems to solve. He
said that with all of the divine
authority of Christ, he was the great
enigma of all history, and further
that Christianity was paradox. Its
actual status and meaning was never
settled, and each succeeding genera
tion must solve it to meets it's own
ends. He drew many parallels to
prove this statement of Jesus being
paradox. The simple carpenter OF
NaZarus was yet an enigma, one in
whom there was no fault, yet who
had many inexplicable points that
men did not know about and could
not understand.
The main point covered in the SER
mon was that if he was to accept the
Christian religion literally, he could
not go into war with intent to kill.
He said, however, that he would make
any sacrifice for America. He would
trail the harbor for mines; he would
attempt to save life or lives, but
would not wilfully take them. One
of the points made by the minister
was that government must have
variety in it's activities and in its
faiths, or else it could not succeed.
There were many strange yet ap-
parently logical statements from his
viewpoint on why he could not ac-
cept the call to arms. He did not say
he would not take up arms at the
command of his country, but he did
not say he would. The idea prevailed
throughout the sermon that he was
opposed to war because it was op-
posed to his personal acception of
what it meant ,to be Christian, and
this in the face of his oft repeated
statement that the Christian religion
was paradox which no man under
stood. He cited passage after
passage to prove his position, and
used quotations direct from the
Masters own words, and on which he
placed the Interpretation that from
the actions OF the Saviour he could
have meant one thing or another, all
of his explanations being intended to
prove that there was no safe plan to
adopt except what one personally
chose to believe was meant by being
and living Christian life.
Taken asa whole. the sermon was
not as definite as it might have been,
and appeared to be foil to bolster
up his own position, what ever that is.
There were many in the congregation
who were willing to say that Mr..
Bradshaw had done all that he was
called upon to do in declaring him.
self just as he did. Others thought
the reverse because there were so
many ways of looking at it. In the
main, the minister justified himself,
and cited the case of Japan, coun-
try that would reject the Christian
religion because to accept its tenets
would be to initiate against the in
terests of the State. That being the
way Japan felt, it was right in re-
jecting Christianity, for the reason
that it did not satisfy the Japan ideals
of country and religion.