Mennonites in the World War/intro
It has been a great pleasure to me to read the manuscript for the new book, Mennonites in the World War, written and published under the direc tion of th* Mennonite General Conference. The brethren who were made responsible for this work have all had practical experience, have been more or less prominently connected with the leading move ments and organizations of the Mennonite Church for a number of years, which, with the deep interest they took in preserving and safeguarding our peace policies, serves to qualify them for the production of this book. In principle the book brings no new story; it merely reiterates the teachings of Christ and His followers down to the present generation. During these years the faith was severely tested and the Gospel of peace was preserved only after many severe struggles and a great cost of human life. The tortures of rack, the flames at the stake, and the jaws of the wild beasts in the arena were all brought to bear on this faith but unable to destroy it. The marvelous heroism of the "Apostle" and "Prisoner of the Lord," facing the dankest world with no weapon other than "The sword of the Spirit;" a Livingstone in benighted Africa; a Paton among the South Sea Islanders; a Menno Simons among a fanatical and unrighteous priesthood ; a William Penn in the midst of savage Indians have been constant sources of inspiration to the unfaltering spirit of the ardent supporters of the message: "On earth peace, good will toward men."
The opposition of Mennonites to war is not of a sudden growth, but it is an abiding conviction in the Church based on the teachings of our Savior and traces back to some of the persecuted Christians out side of Romanism to the times of Christ and His apostles. The principles of peace and opposition to war have been deeply implanted into the very life-blood of every true Mennonite through four cen turies, and to violate this now would rob them of a sacred religious principle, giving them a guilty conscience before God. Their unfriendly attitude toward war is not founded upon disloyalty to government but upon the conviction that the Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace and that "They that take the sword shall perish with the sword."
The Mennonites gratefully recognize the good will of our government in the enactment of six:h laws as offer continued protection and religious liberty laws which attracted our forefathers to this country and has been the occasion of constant joy and thanks giving to Almighty God.
Years have come and gone, and whatever the trials of faith may have been, today we stand on the threshold of a new era. The untried future with all its mysteries and opportunities lies before us. We review our past experiences and try to understand what this has meant to us individually and collective ly. Thinking of the experiences as recorded in this book, we marvel at what has been done. We have just begun to realize what can be accomplished by careful, prayerful, united effort.
In connection with this spiritual awakening we
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owe a debt of gratitude both to our church leaders who have had the rule over us and to those who have manifested in their lives that composure of soul and that intimate connection with their Lord in the noble defense of the faith. The influence from the lives of our sincere young brethren has been woven by in visible hands into the very texture of our souls and into the life of the Church. We have come to under stand and appreciate each other and to "know Him" better by having witnessed His handiwork in these noble lives.
Joy and sadness mingle as voices call and hands beckon us to penetrate spiritual darkness in the na tions that lie prostrate before us. We must needs go. We are His witnesses. Around the Prince of Peace we must rally. In pursuit of it we must gather our forces and set our hearts to the "regions beyond" and proclaim the Gospel which "is the power of God to every one that believeth."
I have read the manuscript for this book with profound interest. Tears flowed freely at times, then again my heart throbbed with praise and thankful ness to God. The simple, pathetic way truths and experiences are told adds much to its effectiveness. May God's choicest blessings accompany this mes sage and all who in bold defense of the faith shared to bring a seemingly lost vision of the Prince of Peace anew to a dying world.
- Albert J. Steiner.