SECULAR CONTEST BETWEEN CONSCIENCE AND POWEB. 141 



(2) . Mr. Roberts' assumption that when Conscience and Power 

 come into conflict Conscience is always right and Power wrong is 

 thus seen to be baseless. This raises the interesting question — by 

 what principle are we to determine when Power may properly over- 

 ride Conscience ? 



(3) . Why is the conflict between Christianity (Conscience) and 

 the world order (Power) so much less acute than it has been? 

 Will our doctrinal orthodoxy ever produce any more vigorous re- 

 action than dislike if it is divorced from its practical moral im- 

 plicates ? I suggest, for example, that if we dwelt less upon the 

 mint anise and cummin of abstention from alcohol, tobacco, dancing, 

 cards, theatres, and Sabbath desecration ; and by speech and 

 example fearlessly condemned the selfishness of any man living in 

 comfort (to say nothing of luxury) while his neighbour was in 

 want, we should speedily find ourselves in agonizing conflict with 

 the flesh within and the world without. 



Lt.-Col. F. A. MoLONY said : Mr. Roberts has very well shown us 

 the great part which conscience has played in promoting spiritual 

 progress and reforms. 



But to do that he has been compelled to select outstanding and 

 unusual incidents, in which men and women have been constrained 

 by the inward voice to set themselves in opposition to constituted 

 authority and governments. It would be a pity if anyone were to go 

 away with the idea that conscience usually works along unpatriotic 

 lines, or that its everyday working hinders and incommodes those 

 who are specially responsible for the welfare of mankind. I am 

 sure that the opposite is the case. 



For instance, the conscientious administration of justice in India, 

 the conscientious work of railway and canal engineers, of police and 

 forest officers, and especially Missionaries, doubtless had much to 

 do with keeping India loyal during the great war. 



I have often thought that our success in recent wars has been 

 largely due to the uniform excellence of 'Our weapons, supplies and 

 munitions. And, of course, conscience had a great deal to do with 

 maintaining that same excellence. 



Even in the case of the conscientious objectors to which Mr. 

 Roberts referred, conscience did not work against the interests of 

 the army so much as is commonly supposed- I had two companies 

 of them working under me in Scotland. They were composed of 

 two classes — religious men and Socialists. The religious men did 

 very good and useful work, at a time when it was extremely 

 difficult to get necessary work done. 



Thus on the whole, in its every day working, conscience is a most 

 useful servant of Governments — even in war time. 



