Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1917 — Dunkards to Claim Exemption From the War. [ARTICLE]

Dunkards to Claim Exemption From the War.

All members of the Church of the Brethren (Dunkards), even those who - registered''ruesdayincompliance”wltir the law, claim exemption from military draft on the ground of religious scruples. In claiming this exemption, members of the church filed certificates of membership, on which is printed a resolution passed at the annual conference held at Winona Lake in 1916, and also the nosition of the church toward war since its organization. This may be summed up for their claim for exemption as follows: “Not to go to war, nor to learn the art of war,” has been one of the conditions of membership of the Church of Brethren from its beginning over two centuries ago. The minutes of the conierence of 1781 “exhort in union all brethren in all places to hold themselves guiltless and take no part in war or bloodshed.” The conference of 1786 clearly declares that the church of the Brethren “can not see or find liberty to use any (carnal) sward.” ' -—yDuring the civiF war the members of the Church of Brethren not only did not take any part in the struggle, but tried only to do good to all men. At the general conference at Winona Lake, June, 1916, the church of the Brethren again declared itself on the same subject in the following maq.nC “The church reaffirms its position in favor of peace even at the cost of suffering wrongfully, if need be, and its unalterable onnosition to war and bloodshed under any condition of provocation and all preparations for war as one of its primal teachings, maintaining that any disputes, national and international, not settled by those involved, Should be submitted to a committee of arbitration as the highest and final appeal of nations. And sine- the government of the United States, in its just oealmgs with the citizens, has graciously provided for the free exercise of conscience in these matters, by authority of this conference, copies of the resolution shall, applying therefore, which shall be used in connection witn a certificate of membership local church in which occasion arises, be presented to the authorities of our “government m seeking exemption from military service 'n accordance with the provisions of the United States laws.” There are several hundred thousand- members of the Church of Brethren —in —the United States and 4t is declared by the leaders that no male members will consent to go to war even if drafted.