Ernest H. King On Conscientious Objectors (1916)

From a pamphlet

To: Sir Hedworth Meux, M.P.,

House of Commons,

Westminster, S.W.

Sir: You were reported recently as asking from your place in Parliament, respecting conscientious objectors to Military Service: ‘Is there a single sentence in Holy Writ which justifies these cowards who won't defend their women and children?’

Considering the gross ignorance of the Scriptures that is being displayed by the Clergy of all Denominations, I suppose it is not surprising that a Member of Parliament in a so-called Christian country is not ashamed to publicly display a similar ignorance and contempt for the Word of God; but I wish you could see, as I and others do, the injustice and cowardice of which you are guilty, in attempting publicly to brand as cowards those whose ideals and conduct you have evidently made no endeavour to understand.

There is, however, always one great advantage in confessing ignorance. You stand a better chance of receiving enlightenment; and as you do not seem to have had any reply to your enquiry, will you do me the favour to read the enclosed copy of a letter I recently sent to the Bishop of Liverpool on this subject.

May I also draw your attention to St. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter five, where our Lord, giving instructions to his disciples on this very matter, says:

‘Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you.

That whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire: Ye have heard how it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you : that ye may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven, for He maketh His sun to shine upon the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and on the unjust.’

I am quite aware that these instructions have been persistently and all but universally ignored for nearly two thousand years, that is because mankind generally are not disciples and followers of Christ, that is why we still have injustice, tyranny, selfishness, and greed of power and territory, leading to wars amongst the nations.

May I remind you that the Armies and Navies of the world have not been able to prevent, but have always tended to make wars certain : they have not prevented the slaughter of women and children in Belgium, Serbia, France, and Poland, nor even in England, in fact we have had to accept Prussianism in order to fight it.

I and those who think with me, know quite well the only remedy for the present evil state of things, which is a disgrace to the civilisation, not to mention the professed Christianity of the nations, is the answer to the prayer, ‘Thy kingdom come’, and we are glad to believe and know that this prayer will be answered in the near future ; but in the meantime the appeal of the Gospel is distinctly and emphatically personal: seek ye the kingdom of God and His Righteousness ; you can have no Christian nation till the individuals of the nation are Christians.

I am, Sir,

Faithfully yours,

Ernest H. King

25 Lincoln Road East,

Peterborough,

July 30th, 1916