12 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 11

BETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

_CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

[TO THE &Hien OF VILE " SPEGVATOR.'1 Sist,—.-Cliciatian.men. who happen to know Quakers must admire the intensity of their faith. Holding the same faith, they have a 'different conception of duti, and- their sympathies are with the sentiments of the lady's letter.-which you publish, not, with the .Quakers. But what does Mr. G. C. Armstrong mean by these, words- in his letter in your issue of the' 5th inst. : " Had Belgium and France no army, their lands would be tuiravaged; thoiripeoplea unhurt" ? He may be a person of wide historical knowledge, and if so, will he excuse the ignorance of a stranger in asking . whether he is acquainted with.the story of the Watdenses ? They were a simple and earnest people believing in the doctrine of non-resistance. By their. tenets, oaths were staallowable even in a Court of Justice, and homicide was uncle; no circumstances justifiable. They had no army, . hut. their lands. were ravaged piteously . with.. fire and . sword ; on one occasion' taventy-two villages: were burned and four thousand persons massacred. Does Mr. Armstrong suggest that the ethicq of tile Inquisition were on a kiseer plane than those of the rtginte. of7William of Germany and his colleagues If so, he his perhaps not heard of the Lusitania,' or read the Bryce Report, or paid any heed to the now officially confirmed accounts of the massacre ,Itund'recis of thousands of peaceible• Armenians. These too