Christians Should Not Assist War (Canada)

Non-Violence Positions in Restoration Movement Churches of Christ in Canada.

"As the war unfolded in 1939, Bailey became the informal contact point between congregations and government. He advised the government about the existence of some conscientious objectors among Church of Christ congregations and published information about the proper procedures for young men to follow in order to be exempted from service.For instance, in October 1940, Bailey published a copy of his letter addressed to the Minister of National Defence and two replies to that correspondence. At this point, conscription has not yet been put in place, and it is unfortunate that the microfilm copies of this paper at Acadia’s library do not extend beyond 1940, for it is not possible to see for ourselves how Bailey and others reacted once conscription was imposed. We are also left without knowing the later editorial policies of this paper as the conflict continued and worsened. Did it change to a more nationalistic stance as the American Church of Christ papers had done under pressure during the First World War?

There is little doubt that the reality of war changed the tone of the debate for and against military service. Rather than asking the question of the Christian attitude to war as Bailey had in 1936, by December of 1939, the Gospel Herald addressed the question, “Shall We Fight For Our Loved Ones”?Nationalism, duty and ridicule became elements in the debate.Even in the face of potential jeering, the writer (probably evangelist Gordon J. Pennock) was unrelenting in his stance. Christians should not assist the war willingly even when regarded as cowards. Christians must stand for what they believe and “right from the start, be determined not fight even if it means that we must go to jail or face the firing squad.” His implication was that Christians should not be cowards as well. However,he does admit that “if conscription comes to Canada” he “can see no reason why Christians should not go willingly and work in the Red Cross”as Bailey had suggested.
This attitude to war is in keeping with the findings of Socknat as the war progressed and as conscientious objectors declared themselves. Socknat concludes that “the majority of COs in the camp were members of millennial sects or the Conference of Historic Peace Churches; consequently, they viewed alternative service simply as the price they had to pay to remain true to their faith.”
(John Carlos Baily of Ontario - became Gospel Herold editor in 1939)

~ Must We have War Again? A Preliminary Explorationof Pacifism in the Restoration Movement in Canada Through the Pages of the Gospel Herald (1936-1940)

RUSSEL PRIME