Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1916-03-04 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

STEWART & STEWART  J.ADIF,S"FAIFAR..S.  PINSTONE STREET,  SHEFFIELD.  men of peaPe, spirit which have risen to great heights of heroics. We are told that Quakers are to-day sweeping the seas for mines, a labour of infinite peril, and are taking no money for it. The whole problem of the relations of these men who decline to take up arms for the country which bore and sheltered them, with the rest „of human society. is an intensely difficult one, and calls for dispassionate study. War is the grand test of individual character. We have had unexampled opportunities during the present crisis of examining minuteiy the texture of this mighty fabric which we call the British Empire. We find that our land and all that it stands for is to-day stayed and fortified and defended with a great-hearted patriotism which his led millions of our young men voluntarily to accept the hazard and hardship of military service. We believe that patriotism to represent the pure gold of our national character. We believe that the man who leaves his home, friends, and kindred, ease and prosperity, to defend his country with his body. to surrender, if need be, his tlife for an ideal, is acting up to the highest possible standard of citizen.ship. If this be pure gold, what must i the antithesis of patriotism be? What is the man who declares that he cannot take up arms in defence of his country, and of his kin, who enjoys the hospitality of a land which he will stir no finger to succour? _ .  The conscientious objector has taken up ground so infirm that it is absurdly easy to drive him from one untenable position to another. For instance, we have an objector saying: "As a simple believer in the Word of God, I cannot violate my conscience by taking life.- And yet the God whose Word is appealed to by the conscientious objector of to-day is the God of Battles who said unto Saul, the King of the Israelites: " Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Ainalekites, and fight against. them until they be consumed." That is not compatible \yitli the Sixth Commandment any more than this war is compatible with the ideals of Christianity. nor than a policy of passive non-resistance toward's a murderous and brutal enemy is compatible with reason. Men have suffered and died for an opinion. Men have won the scorn and contempt of ,:,-)ciety for an opinion; but it has been icit until this day for men to seek personal safety and immunity in an opinion._ .  . • nightly or wrongly, these conscientious objectors are to be pressed into serving the nation, with just that degree of compensating toleration and eoneei,lsion which is inalienable I from .EogliAi principles of government. For we are arrived at this position: that this nation must be preserved alive, and every member of it who is able to do so, must resign his private scruples to assist in the work of denee, by whatever means he is best fitted to employ. Few really highminded Christian men require at this date to be convinced of the propriety of taking toll of the enemies of their I land. If they ever had scruples, the !enemy himself has obligingly removed l them.  , , , , 1114 ~.. •.14 4 r, t., lAT • 1 t 7 .141 ii • ,Alll * ° • p i L t * • 74 4 • 'l, .0 It IL k.. - .' • -.:1..1 litirt 1 ' ?;; 1 -1 , • Agee k.• • • - • '', ..:•.:••• -'•i• _ Elbe -7+ll catcall s';°°llAgalb 4....