The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-13
Waterbury Ministers Affirm Right
 To Advise Conscientious ObjectOrS
Sign Declaration SuppOrt- ed By l67 Protestant
 CIergymen in U. s.

Two local pastors, and one whC was formerly a minister in this city have signed an affirmation of theil
 belief in the Christian minister, right to counsel and support those who oppose conscription for con- sciences sake. The affirmation was circulated by Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers, minister of the Broadway Tabernacle church in New York City, and by Rev. A. J. Muste, sec- retary of the Fellowship of Recon ciliation, whose national headquar- ters are on Broadway in New York City.
 Local Signers.
 The Waterbury ministers among the l67 Protestant leaders who have signed the affirmation are Rev. Thomas s. Cochard of Prospect Congregational church and Rev. John c. Walker of the Second Con- gregational church. Rev. Albert Buckner Coe, of the First Congre- gational church, Oak Park, Illinois, and formerly pastor of the Second Congregational church here, was also among the signers.
 The affirmation insists on the ob- ngation of every Christian minister ito counsel men in all circumstances to render obedience to conscience and resolutely to do the right as they see it." It is expected that more signatures will be added within 8 short time.
 The affirmation of the Christians right of conscience, as made public by Dr. Chalmers and MT. Muste, states: We desire to affirm our con- viction that no action of govern ment can abrogate or suspend our obligation as Christian ministers to counsel men in all circumstances to render obedience to conscience and resolutely to do the right as they see iI. Therefore we must make 1t clear to our fellow-citiZens, and in particular to conscientious objec- tors to war in any form that we stand ready to counsel and support in all ways within our power those who may be subjected to difficulty or persecution because they are un- able conscientiously to cooperate in the operation of a conscription act"
 Not Defiant.
 Commenting upon this affirma- tion, the Reverend MT. Muste, Sec retary of the Fellowship of Recon ciliation at 1929 Broadway, New York, said: That God is the sole Lord of Conscience is one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. In conformity with this doctrine practically all churches have in re- cent years affirmed that they must uphold the right of individual con- science to refuse all participation in war or any form of conscript serv- ice.
 ''The ministers who have signed this affirmation do so in no spirit of defiance. They simply desire Straight-forwardly to remind their fellow-citizens and especially mem- bers of Congress now considering the Burke Wordsworth conscription bill that they intend to stand by the declaration of their churches in this matter and that no act of government can absolve them from their duty as ministers of God to counsel men to obey their con- sciences; and that they will there fore continue to give all support in their power to those who may be called upon to suffer for conscien- tious objection to war and conscrip- ton. They earnestly pray that Congress may pass no law which seeks to conscript any man for any kind of compulsory service against his conscience"