THE CHURCH AND WAR
[To the Editor of Tim SPECTATOR.] Sut,—Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice really cannot be allowed to get away with an accusation of muddled thought against Mr. Sidney Spencer, in a letter which is a striking example of the same quality.
(1) The analogy between rearmament and an increase of the Police force would only be applicable if the Police were to use precisely the same method as the criminal. But that is the one thing which the conscience of this country will not tolerate. Our Police do not go about armed : they do not shoot dangerous men at sight : they do not burgle burglars' houses. In war on both sides the primary aim is to kill before you are killed : in peace, the Police, if they kill at all, do so accidentally, in self-defence, secondarily to their main purpose, which is to preserve order without taking life. If the Police were to employ the methods denied of them above, any Archbishop who approved of their increase would justly be accused of sanctioning crime.
(2) Sir Frederick Maurice makes the very remarkable statement that approval of an increase in our air power does not imply approval of bombardment of towns " ; yet he approves of pooling air power. Does that mean that our section of an international air force would only be contributed on condition that it did not join in the bombardment of towns? Unless Sir Frederick Maurice means that, his two state- ments are quite contradictory. But if he means that, is it conceivably a practical policy—or the policy of the Arch- bishop, or the Government, as shown at the Air Force pageant or in their speeches ?
I am grateful for Mr. Cough's letter, for it calls attention to the really terrible position of many of the younger clergy today—a position that might lead to many of us resigning our active ministry in any future war. The conscience of the average working man whom we meet, and of many of the educated classes as well, unfailingly condemns the Church for associating Christ with the last War, and with defence propaganda today. We look to our leaders for some statement which will recall the Church to its primary duty in the world of holding up the Cross : and what do we find ? The Arch- bishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Winchester, and doubtless many others, approve of the Government's policy of defence, which inevitably involves the consequence of crucifying others on whatever cross they set up for you. Surely this is a remarkable reading of our Lord's life and teaching.
I believe that the overwhelming conscience of the Church of England is against their leaders in this matter : but that is only an opinion. In the meantime, may I challenge, or beg, any Bishop, Archbishop, Sir Frederick Maurice, or any other sincere Christian to answer this one question openly in your columns : "Do you imagine that Christ, if He were on earth in the flesh today, would release bombs—or poison gas—on His fellow men in any circumstances ? "—Yours faithfully,
P. M. GEDGE, 40 Tabard Street, S.E. 1. Charterhouse Missioner.
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