Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-02
Chaplains Endorse
Natl. Defense Act
And Favor Crusade
For Warless World

Boston, Mass, May 1--we be-
lieve that the time has come TOT
Christian ministers everywhere to
take the leadership in the crusade
for a warless world" This was the
attitude toward war expressed In
resolutions adopted by the chaplains
of the First Corps Area, who re-
Gently met at the Army base IN this
city as the guests Of Major Frank T.
McCabe, Infantry.
The resolutions adopted unani-
nous relative to the stand OF the
chaplains regarding the National
Defense Act Of 1920, continued as
| follows:
1--WE are not yet out Of the shad-
ows of a world conflict in which
millions fell in an effort to end war
| forever. We must not break faith
with those who died. We must be
true to the ideals which actuated US
| duriny these trying days. This was
a war to end war and the Christian
| church must do all in her power 10
| prevent its repetition.
"While recognizing the folly. bru-
| tally and waste of war, we do not
| believe that the cause of world peace
| will be advanced by merely denun-
| citation or by endeavoring to COM
NIT the church to an abstract prin-
| ciple of non-resistance. We deplore
| any suggestion of serving notice
upon our government that we will
| never again as Christian ministers
| support our country should she be
| obliged to defend herself by force
| Of arms or protect a helpless nation
| in distress. We deem it far wiser
and more statesmanlike to give our
support to every movement that
seeks to make war impossible. at
| the same time reserving the right
| to decide in any future emergency
by the issues involved.
| 1--WE protest further against any
suggestion of calling the church to
repentance for her past relationship
to our country's wars. The sacri-
fees of blood and treasure to Gre
ate and preserve our liberties are
too sacred to be referred to as mis-
takes or sins. If the church in
as far as the World war Is con-
cerned, 1t is that for too long time.
she attempted to preserve "a cold
neutrality in the face of grave
wrongs. When called upon to give
her sons to world freedom, God
helping her, she could not do other
wise. A repetition Of militarism run
amuck would call for a similar &C.
ton on her part.
LAS steps toward the abolition OF
war as a method of settling interna-
tional disputes, we urge the closes,
cooperation Of our country with the
other nations in the world court we
favor the granting of our govern.
ment the power to conscript capital
and labor in the event of war as
we'll as the bodies of men. We op.
pose the manufacture and sale OF
arms and ammunition on the part OF
private corporations, and the selling
of arms and ammunition to belliger-
ent nations after our neutrality has
been declared.
believing that international law
like national law can only be up
held and respected by some meas
ure of force, and without such force
we would find ourselves at the mer-
cy of the lawless and vicious, we
therefore give our unqualified In
dorsement to our present National
Defense Act. believing it to be en-
tirely compatible with the Christian
principles of upholding law and or
der and of defending the weak and
HcipicSo dSdlLSt lic oppIcSSoI.
Election off officers was held.
Chaplain Wallace Hayes of Boston
was reelected secretary treasurer
Members of executive committee re-
elected were Chaplains II. j. O'Con-
nor, ID. Harold Hickey and c. V.
Smith.
Brigadier General Mark l.. Her
sey spoke interestingly about the
chaplains of the Reserve Corps Gre
ating favorable impressions of our
National Defense. Also 1t Col. w
c. Sweeney, intelligence officer, Col
M. B. Stokes. chief of staff for sup
ply. and Colonel BIanton Winship
officer in charge, Citizens Military
Training Camps Affairs, offered sug-
gestions for the reserve chaplains
particularly regarding the Citizens
I Military Trimming CarnnS