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CLEMENT C. J. TVEBB^ ESQ.^ M.A.^ OX 



Elizabeth Frv in the matter of prison reform, and of Samuel Bowley 

 and others as pioneers in the cause of Temperance. Again, think of 

 the service rendered to humanity by Lister, whose discovery of the 

 use of antiseptics is said to have saved more lives than have been 

 lost in battle during the nineteenth century. I would remind you 

 of all that Friends have done in the cause of education and 

 philanthropy and social reform : of their labours in connection with 

 the Bible Society, both at headquarters and throughout the country ; 

 not to speak of the high moral tone of the lives lived by quiet, 

 inconspicuous members of our community during these 260 years. 

 They have endeavoured to live those lives in humble dependence 

 upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, speaking directly to 

 their consciences in harmony with the Holy Scriptures. Thus it 

 has become a common saying that " a Quaker's word is as good as 

 his bond.'"' 



Is there not something due from the State in consideration of this 

 high ideal of Christian citizenship 1 Are these the people that 

 should be treated as outlaAvs because they sincerely believe that 

 their allegiance to the Prince of Peace, and His command to love 

 our enemies, forbids them to take htiman life ? These principles 

 Friends have held as long as they have been in existence. They 

 have held them consistently during other wars, with the full know- 

 ledge of the Government, and have not been banished from the 

 country on account of it. 



By the Eevocation of the Edict of Xantes, France sent 2000 

 Huguenots to perish as galley slaves, and drove thousands more 

 from her shores by persecution, but at the same time she robbed 

 herself of one of her most valuable moral assets. ^Vhat was her 

 loss was England's gain. Surely no member of the Yictoria 

 Institute would wish to banish the Quakers by making life in our 

 Empire impossible for them, as it would be if Conscription were to 

 become permanent I In refusing to take human life we are only 

 following in the steps of the early Christians. For about the first 

 three centuries of our era Christians as a rule refused to fight. " I 

 am a Christian, I cannot fight," was their testimony. If the 

 Church of Christ had kept true to this early testimony, who can say 

 that she would not have carried public opinion with her in this 

 matter 1 



That the Arm of the Lord is sufficient for those who put their 



