XX- Special Conference
A Special Session of the Pennsylvania Conference of the Menno^ nite Brethren in Christ called by the Chairman of the last Annual Conference, Presiding Elder H. B. Musselman, convened in Ebenezer Church, Bethehem, Pa., at 12 o’clock noon, Monday, May 14, 1917.
The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the last Annual Conference H. B. Musselman was then elected Chairman of this Special Session and C. H. Brunner Secretary. The Chairman then read Psalm 75 and 76. This was followed by a number of prayers.
The roll was called with the following result:
Ministers Present: H. B. Musselman, W. G. Gehman, C. H. Brunner W S. Hottel, E. N. Cassel, F. M. Hottel, J. G. Shireman, R. L. Woodring W. J. Fretz, J. F. Barrall, H. K. Kratz, E. T. Shick, B. Bryan Musselman, J. C. Roth, H. A. Kauffman, O. S. Hillegass, K. Bergstresser, G. F. Yost, E. E. Kublic, W. W. Zimmerma.n, V. H. Reinhart and R. W. Dickert.
Ministers Absent: W. B. Musselman, Wm. Gehman, C. F. Snyder and P. J. Musselman.
Delegates Present: G. O. Billig, H. S. Jones, O. C. Kistler, S. S Geil, E. C. Goucher, C. W. Teel, S. W. Heiser (Alternate), M E Brownback, Herbert E. Gehman, C. D. Bean, G. K. Himmelreich, Alien M. Gehman, Jno. L. Manney, H. G. Brunner, William H. Bender, W D Evert, S. John Flickinger (Alternate), J. M. Oplinger, C. E. Neff and H. H. Bergey.
This was followed by an address by the Chairman, stating the circumstances and causes leading to the call of this meeting.
The matter of our attitude relative to the militarism of the present day was taken up and discussed at length, after which the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the Chairman appoint a committee of five to draw up some statements re-asserting and explaining our position relative to militarism.
The Chair appointed C. H. Brunner, W. G. Gehman, J. G. Shireman, E. N. Cassel and W. S. Hottel.
Business was suspended to give an opportunity for this committee to sit.
Business was soon after resumed again and the Committee submitted their report, which, with a few changes, reads as follows:
We, the Committee appointed to draw up some statements explaining our position relative to militarism, beg leave to report the following:
(1) We have always been regarding our Articles of Faith, numbers xxii and xxiii in our Discipline as sufficient and final in substantiating our belief that for us as Christians, war is wrong and conflicting with the dictates of our conscience and the word of God.
(2) We have always believed and advocated that for a Christian to engage in warfare is not in harmony with “the supreme law and will of God,” and is, therefore, wrong. (See Art. 22.) To compel a person to engage in warfare is, therefore, to compel a person to act contrary to “the supreme law and will of God.”
(3) We have always believed and agreed with the words of Jesus, the Son of God, when He made the following declaration of defenselessness before Pilate, the official representative of the Government of Rome: “My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants (Greek, ‘officers’ as in verses 3, 12, 18, 22 of this chapter) fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36.)
(4) We believe that war causes grief and suffering to come upon many innocent ones to an incalculable extent. Therefore, our policy is, and always has been a policy opposed to warfare. This was proven by the fact that our people were never allowed to take part in any previous wars, as for example, the Rebellion and the Spanish-American War.
(5) We, therefore, declare that we are and always have been strongly opposed to all warfare and do not approve of any of our members taking part in any warfare.
(6) We also believe, as the New Testament declares, that “the powers that be” are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1-8.) We willingly obey the duties and responsibilities enjoined upon the Christians by the New Testament in their attitude towards the Civil Government or “the powers that be” as follows:
1—That we pay the taxes, tributes and customs required (Matt. 22:19; Mark 12:14; Luke 20:22; Rom. 13:6,7.)
2—That we obey Magistrates and such who are in authority wherever it does not conflict with the supreme law and will of God (Tit. 3:1.)
3—That we honor and respect our rulers (1 Pet. 2:13-17- Ex 22-28; Acts 23:5.)
4—That we pray for our rulers and such who are in authority this, in our estimation, is our very important and effective obligation (1 Tim. 2:2.)
C. H. Brunner,
J. G. Shireman,
W. S. Hottel,
W. G. Gehman,
E. N. Cassel
Committee
The report was adopted.
Resolved, That the Chair appoint a Committee of five including himself, as a Standing Committee to consider matters relative to the present war. The Chair appointed C. H. Brunner, W. G. Gehman, W. S. Hottel, E. N. Cassel and H. B. Musselman.
Resolved, That the carfares of the preachers and delegates and all other expenses in connection with this meeting be paid by the various classes out of the Trustees’ funds according to the membership reported at the last Annual Conference.
Adjourned by prayer by the Chairman at 7 P. M.
Signed: H. B. Musselman, Chairman,
C. H. Brunner, Secretary,
S. John Flickinger,
Jno. L. Manney,
G. K. Himmelreich,
H. A. Kauffman,
G. F. Yost,
B. Bryan Musselman,
W. W. Zimmerman,
R. L. Woodring,
J. M. Oplinger,
J. C. Roth,
E. C. Goucher,
S. S. Geil,
William H. Bender,
Herbert E. Gehman,
Allen M. Gehman,
C. E. Neff,
H. H. Bergey
F. M. Hottel,
R. W. Dickert,
W. S. Hottel,
C. W. Teel,
W. D. Evert,
W. G. Gehman,
W. J. Fretz,
J. G. Shireman,
E. E. Kublic,
V. H. Reinhart,
O. S. Hillegass,
R. Bergstresser,
S. W. Heiser,
G. O. Billig,
O. C. Kistler,
E. T. Shick,
H. G. Brunner,
M. E. Brownback,
H. K. Kratz,
C. D. Bean,
J. F. Barrall,
E. N. Cassel,
H. S. Jones.
On September 6, 1917, at 1 P. M., the Committee appointed by the Chairman of the Special Conference, met at the residence of the Presiding Elder, H. B. Musselman- Bethlehem, Pa., and read communications and information received from various sources. After a lengthy consideration this Committee resolved to send W. G. Gehman and E. N. Cassel to meet a few of other Mennonite bodies who had personal interviews with the highest military authorities and report to this Committee at an early date.
On the evening of September 7, 1917, this Committee met again at the same place to hear the report of the brethren. At this meeting the brethren submitted their oral report, whereupon a resolution was adopted to be presented to all our ministers. It was here decided to call a meeting of all the Presiding Elders and Pastors, of the Pennsylvania Conference to convene in Bethel M. B. C. Church in Allentown, Pa., at 1 P. M., September 11, 1917, to present the matter to them.
On September 11, 1917, upon the request of the Committee on Military Affairs, all the Presiding Elders and Pastors of the Pennsylvania Conference met in Bethel M. B. C. Church, Allentown, Pa., at 1 P. M.
The meeting was opened with prayer by J. G. Shireman. H. B. Musselman was elected Chairman and C. H. Brunner, Secretary. The roll was called with the following present:
H. B. Musselman, W. G. Gehman, C. H. Brunner, W. S. Hottel, E. N. Cassel, F. M. Hottel, J. G. Shireman, R. L. Woodring, W. J. Fretz, J. F. Barrall, H. K. Kratz, E. T. Shick, B. Bryan Musselman, J. C. Roth, H. A. Kauffman, O. S. Hillegass, R. Bergstresser, G. F. Yost, E. E. Kublic, W. W. Zimmerman, V. H. Reinhart and R. W. Dickert.
The minutes of the Special Session of the Annual Conference were then read and also the report of the Committee appointed by the Chairman of the Special Session of Conference which was received with a slight change, reading as follows:
Bethlehem, Pa., September 7, 1917.
Representatives of a number of non-resistant bodies, Mennonites and others, have had an interview with General Crowder and Secretary of War, Baker, at Washington, D. C., the following having been submitted to us:
1. That none of our brethren need serve in any capacity which violates their creed and conscience.
2. When they are called, they should report at the place designated on their notice.
3. From the place designated on their notice, they should go with others, who are drafted and called, to the training camp.
4. Report to the army officers the Church to which they belong, and their belief in its creed and principles.
5. This non-resistant position will place them in detention camps, where they will be properly fed and cared for.
6. In these camps, they will not be uniformed nor drilled.
7. A list of service considered non-combatant will be offered, but they need not accept any in violation of their consciences.
8. Those who can not accept any service, either combatant or non-combatant, will be assigned to some other service not under the military arm of the government.
9. Our ministers will be allowed to visit the brethren at these camps and to keep in touch with them.
10. Our ministers will be privileged to give this information and advice to our brethren in private or in public meetings.
We have unanimously agreed to advise our brethren to state their position on church, creed and principles to the army officers at mobilization camps.
We again encourage our brethren not to accept any service, either combatant or non-combatant, under the military arm of the Government in violation of their consciences and the creed or principles of the church.
While our brethren will not be freed entirely, yet freed from serving the military arm of the Government, we should be very grateful for the consideration that the authorities have shown us.
May our church everywhere continue to send prayers to the Throne of Grace in behalf of our young brethren in this trying hour and for those in authority so “that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life.”
H. B. Musselman,
C. H. Brunner,
W. G. Gehman,
E. N. Cassel,
W. S. Hottel,
Committee.
The subject under consideration was extensively and generally discussed and upon adjournment at 3.45 P. M., each of the Presiding Elders and Pastors was furnished with a copy of the above
Report.
H. B. Musselman, Chairman,
C. H. Brunner, Secretary,
W. G. Gehman,
E. N. Cassel,
J. G. Shireman,
R. L. Woodring,
E. E. Kublic,
H. K. Kratz,
W. J. Fretz,
G. F. Yost,
R. W. Dickert,
R. Bergstresser,
W. S. Hottel,
F. M. Hottel,
E. T. Shick,
J. C. Roth,
O. S. Hillegass,
B. Bryan Musselman,
V. H. Reinhart,
W. W. Zimmerman,
H. A. Kauffman,
J. F. Barrall.