[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECUTOR."1
Sta,—Not even the most conscientious objector can possibly object to your fair and just treatment of this subject in the Spectator of September 15th. It is a mental refreshment, after reading the appeals of a large part of the Press to the lower passions of human nature, to turn to the dignified language of your article. There is no doubt, as you say, that much that is undesirable and insincere shelters itself behind the plea of the conscientious objector. The difficulty of eliminating the false from the true is great, and the rights and needs of the State most in the present time of stress he pressed to the utmost extent. While admitting all this, may I say that it seems to me that the eloquent quotation from the " Laws "• in which Socrates appeals to the citisen to submit in all
c2;ergri01 /kChretttributed to the "Laws" °mere, as • matter et circumstances to the demands Of the State does net quite lit in with our timee It is rather the echo of an age, much Farther back, when in the Jewish State the individual had no legitimate life outside of the Nation's laws and traditions. And this was necessary in the evolutionary process of States and Nations. But even then there existed the few who protested, while later on Socrates himself deviated from his plea, inasmuch as he came into conflict with the State regarding his teaching of Truth, and paid with his life for hie claim to an individual conscience. It was with the advent of Christianity, however, with its insistence on the value of each individual soul, that a leaven entered into all fields and activities of life which is destined to change more and more the relation of the individual soul to pressure from without. That is to say, the individual is being gradually educated by Christianity into becoming an arbiter of what is right or wrong in matters of conscience. Christianity brought in its train the certainty of eventual perfect individualization, a long and slow process depending on our ever clearer understanding of the spiritual truth of Christ's teaching. For eenturiespast we can trace the gradual emergence of the individual conscience from hidden, silent thought currents into becoming articulate and a force to be reckoned -with. We can also trace how it acts slowly but surely as a lover to the State's conscience. Even a cursory review of history affords a glimpse into the deep wisdom of the •saying of Christ, "Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." There seems to be no limit to the working out of this order, and we see the things belonging to Caesar gradually grow less, while those belonging to God multiply. From many instances I will only refer to one: the abolition of slavery, upheld by the State and defended by the Church until not so very long ago, came through the evolution of the State conscience brought about by the pressure of the individual con- science. And it is interesting to speculate what will go neat. Judging by significant signs and revelations, it may be secret diplomacy, militarism, and Imperialism. The coming age of democracy will submerge many forces regarded up to now as indis- pensable, while it will call others into being.
One must admire the trust of the Spectator in the people and its belief that increased responsibility will call out the best that is in -them. It is an intuitive and courageous belief which will be justified by future events. I think this unfailing optimism is one of the great services which the Spectator renders to its readers amidst the vapours and confusion of Press opinions clamouring for acceptance—I am, Sir, with many thanks for your article, A. FERGUSON.
Previous page
