The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-29

DR.. Allen d. Hole, president of the
Peace Association of Friends in Amer
lea has prepared the following sketch
of the stand of Quakers on disarm-
ament:
The present attitude Of Friends on
the subject of disarmament is a con-
tinuation and an expansion of the
position which has been taken by their
members from the very beginning.
George Fox, the founder of the
Society of Friends" as it was at first
called. spoke explicitly against the use
OF armed force by Christians under
any circumstances. William Penn,
who was one of the most distinguished
OF the converts to the doctrine of the
| early Quakers soon found the question
OF bearing arms coming to him for
decision.
This fact Is recorded in the incident
known as the sword incident" which.
while usually spoken of by careful
historians as founded on tradition,
nevertheless, seems to be well authen.
ticated and certainly shows the atti-
tude which early Friends took on this
question.
Story Of Incident.
The story Is that soon after William
rem was convinced (about 1861
that he should adopt the beliefs of the
Quakers and while he still retained
some OF the customs in dress and
otherwise which were common among
men of rank and fashion at that time
including the wearing of a sword, he
asked George Fox whether in his opin
Ion Friend could consistently con
unue the practice of wearing the
sword George Fox is said to have
rephed, Wear it as long as thor
canst But the next time the two
met the sword was gone. George Fo,
said to William Penn, William, where
is thy sword?" and Penn replied: "Oh
| nave taken thy advice, l wore it ii
long as l could"
| William Penn has made a very i'm
portant contribution to the discussion
of the problem which has been befor,
the minds of careful thinkers for gen
erations, namely, the question as t;
how the nations of the world might b,
able to live together peacefully.
| Prepares Plan.
He prepared plan which he callet
An essay towards the present an,
future peace of Europe" which wa
first published In the year 1693-94. I
has been referred to usually a
"Penn's Peace Plan" The motto whicl
I he used to introduce this plan ma
!, be translated from the Latin freely b
, these words: Arms should yield t
| discussion as means of securin
, Justice"
"Penn's Peace Plan" is primarily
. proposal for the establishment of
league of nations of Europe, and i
presenting the reasons for believin
that such plan offers the only prat
tical method for securing internations
peace, he refers to the reduction {
ornaments which will follow. For e.
ample, he speaks of the great loss {
resources which come about by th
destruction of ships in carrying O
: war, and remarks that "it become
, prudent men to consider" that ther
5 Is vast charge that has accompal
:, led" the blood tragedies that EuroI
9 had so recently experiencew.
4 1t is very interesting to compal
3 "Penn's Peace Plan" with the recer
proposals regarding the formation
a league or association Of nation
0 through which justice may be secure
. without an appeal to force.
!. II an attempt were made to recol
the names of the various Friends WI
4 have since the time of William Per
expressed in their writings or in Il
l. work which they attempted the co
viction that the nations should cea!
Il to prepare for war, the list would