A Matter Of Conscience
Heroes All! Adventist conscripts of World War I, photographed in 1917 France. Back row: J. McGeachey, W. Coppock, W. W. Armstrong (for several years British Union President), A. Penson, Jesse Clifford (missionary to West Africa.) Middle row: S. Williams, D. Berm, A. F. Bird, H. W. Lowe (British Union President for several years before, and during World War II), F. Archer. Front row: G. Norris (Manager of Granose Foods, and pioneer factory builder in S. America), H. Archer, W. Till (missionary for many years in West Africa).
The story of Seventh-day Adventist Conscientious Objectors during World War I
The year was 1914 and war was on the horizon in Britain. Of the roughly 2,500 Adventist members in the United Kingdom, 130 were conscripted to serve in World War I (WWI). While these men were loyal subjects of the British crown, they were more devoted Christians and felt it was against their conscience to serve as soldiers. Not only would they be forced to carry a weapon, but also forced to serve on Sabbath. To mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WWI, the British Union Conference produced this documentary on the lives of a group of 14 Adventist soldiers who vowed to stand up for conscience, "though the heavens fall."
Encourage your friends and family to tune in and watch this significant programme about Adventist young men facing up to the challenges of WWI.
14 Soldiers in God's Army
The Britons chose to endure beatings, starvation, and the dreaded “crucifixion” punishment rather than work on Sabbath in World War I.
The Adventist Review (November 5th 2014) cover story is dedicated to the horrific experiences of these soldiers conscripted into the army against their faith. The article tells how they suffered to keep the Sabbath. One caption reads - "Guards Not Blessed With Milk of Human Kindness"
These men suffered terribly for the faith that we have today, some of use not aware of the cost some have paid in our most recent history! Clearly we don't have to look back to Bible times for such Godly inspiration in time of conflict of how we should stand for our faith in Christ. Here's a quote from the Adventist Review article:
"After a hearing by the Central Tribunal, the Adventists released from the army and then from civil prison, transferring to Knutsford Work Centre. All 14 were free men by July 1918. The war ended on November 11, 1918.
Many of the prisoners went on to hold leadership roles in the Adventist Church. Lowe served as British Union president before and during World War II, while Armstrong became union president after the war. Willie G. Till and another prisoner, Jesse Clifford, traveled to western Africa as missionaries, while G. Norris became manager of Granose Foods, an Adventist-operated company that makes meat substitutes, and later trailblazed as a factory builder in South America. Bird, J. McGeachy, and others served as local pastors and strong spokesmen for the Adventist Church when conscription re-emerged as an issue in World War II."
This is a witness on par with Daniel in the Loins den! It is only right that this year's memorial that we has Seventh-day Adventist bear in mind the scarifices of the men and women who have worn the uniform (both Adventist and non-Adventist). That we must all note that the Church in Britain and Germany suffered gravely in and after the Great War has many other denominations. Some, forced to serve against their faith (imprisoned and tortured), others serving their country, be it for the Allies or Germany; this weekend "We Will Remember Them." - Webmaster. Link: Adventist Review
Adventist Leaders in Germany Apologize for World War I Stance
The apology, read at a rare gathering of the two dissenting sides of the German church, signals a possible step toward reconciliation. See link: Adventist Review.
The question can be asked what of the German Seventh-day Adventists of the 1900s? There was actually a strong German union of Seventh-day Adventist. The war caused a great schism in the union with Adventists choosing to support the war or becoming Conscientious Objectors. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany has published a statement pertaining to actions it took in the context of the outbreak of World War I. The Southern and Northern German Union Conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist church adopted the statement on April 6 and April 13, 2014 respectively, and published it the May edition of the Church magazine “Adventisten heute” (Adventist Today), under the title “Guilt and Failure”.
A hundred years after World War I created a split among German Seventh-day Adventists that remains to this day, the church’s two unions in Germany have apologized for the combative stance taken by church leaders during the war and for their treatment of dissidents who left to create the Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement.
The Question of Military Service and the Impact of World War I on Seventh-day Adventism Opening Speech
International Symposium of the Institute of Adventist Studies
The Impact of World War I on Seventh-day Adventism
Speaker is George Knight. George Raymond Knight is a Seventh-day Adventist historian and educator. He is emeritus professor of church history at Andrews University.
Sources:
http://adventist.org.uk/news/2014/2014-buc/a-matter-of-conscience-film-released
http://www.stanet.ch/apd/news/3995.html
http://www.thh-friedensau.de/newsworthy/4719-2/
http://adventist.org.uk/news/gallery/gallery-na/world-war-1
http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/adventist-leaders-in-germany-apologize-for-stance-in-world-war-i
http://adventist.org.uk/wwi/ww1
Updated 5 November 2014
the Somme Poppies
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Website last update: 14 November 2014 22:12
