In Trying Places by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 9, 1911

In Trying Places

By W. A. S.

WITH the whole world in feverish preparation for the coming Armageddon, the way of the messengers of the gospel of peace is being made increasingly difficult. When the storm may break over all nations, no one can tell. We know by the word of prophecy that the day is hastening, while angels are holding the winds of strife in order that the message of truth may go to all.

Some of our brethren are being called upon to pass through trying experiences that should impel us to much prayer for them—that wisdom may be given them to know how to shape their course aright—and for the cause of truth in all lands. Newspapers in many parts of this country have been giving prominence to the experience of a young man in Europe, brought to trial on account of his Sabbath-keeping. The press in other lands has dealt with it also. It suggests how quickly the news of some crisis in the work of God may be carried to the world in these days, and the witness be borne that will bring the final crisis.

The Chicago Sunday Herald, of January 22, prints the following despatch, with the headlines, “Goes to Prison for Religion,” “Is Seventh-day Adventist,” “Court Sentences Him for Five Years for Insubordination:”—

Berlin, January 21.—The scruples of a religious recruit are causing a lot of trouble to the authorities of the German army. The young man, whose name is Naumann, is an Adventist. Poring over the Scriptures, in his religious zeal he convinced himself that the seventh day of the week was the Sabbath, which was to be kept holy, and on which no manner of work was to be done.

When he was drawn for military service between three and four years ago, he found that this belief entailed unpleasant consequences. All went well for a few days, and he proved himself an intelligent and industrious recruit. But when Saturday arrived, he flatly refused to go on duty.

Holds Firmly to Religion

Minor punishments and remonstrances were absolutely without effect on him. He merely repeated calmly and firmly that his conscience forbade him to perform any kind of labor on the Sabbath, and that no human laws nor penalties could make him waver in his obedience to the Word of God.

The presiding judge at the chief court martial of the third army corps asked Naumann to explain himself. He replied simply but decisively:—

“I was sworn in with a Christian oath, and therefore can not be under an obligation to violate the commandments of God and work on the Sabbath. One must regard God as the highest authority, and obey him in the first place.”

High Court Confirms Sentence

The court then confirmed the sentence of five and one-half years’ imprisonment for insubordination, which had been passed by a lower tribunal. Naumann has now appealed to the final instance, the imperial court martial.

If it should find against him, he will, unless pardoned, have to choose between spending the best years of his life in prison and abandoning his religion.

From other versions of the report it appears that the young man made it plain that his obedience to God would not preclude service on the Sabbath in emergencies, requiring the performance of works of necessity or charity. To give answer under such conditions is a personal matter between the soul and the Creator, and the brother bore his testimony as God enabled him to see the light. His answer regarding the oath under which he was called to military service was a striking one. Under such conditions how the heart must cling to those words of the Saviour: “It shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.” Matt. 10:19.

Varied comment editorially on the case has been made by the press, some arguing that exceptions might be made to general regulations. The following editorial from the Washington Herald shows how the matter is generally regarded, doubtless, and it is worth while noting the view-point. The article is headed, “Army Duties and Religion:”—

The German military authorities are engaged with one of those problems which those who have to do with army discipline find the most perplexing and troublesome. It is that of a young soldier who announces himself as an Adventist, and who, on account of his religious belief, refuses to engage in labor, even under the orders of his commanding officers, on Saturdays. He is willing to stand the punishment for his disobedience, proclaiming that he is under an obligation to obey the commandments of God. He regards this communication

as from the highest authority. The pious soldier has been sentenced to five and one-half years’ imprisonment for insubordination, and has now appealed to an imperial court martial, the final resort in his case.

It might be considered that a man who entertains religious views which interfere with the discharge of his military duties could be discharged from the army as the easiest way out of the difficulty. But if that were done, it might be made the ruse of other soldiers to separate themselves from the military establishment. There can not be, of course, any exception on the ground of religious belief to the requirement that every soldier shall perform the duty assigned to him, without regard to the day of the week or its relation to a period of worship. In all military and naval organizations ample opportunities are given to attend church or engage in any other form of religious activity. This can not be allowed to interfere in time of emergency with the duties devolving upon a force employed for national defense, and there have been few cases where the intensity of religious faith has embarrassed the military body in its efficient discharge of its service duties.

Instances of piety such as has been manifested by the German soldier give trouble to those in authority, because there is always the disinclination to appear as imposing upon individual religious belief. Sometimes it is overlooked as an act of insubordination, as in the case years ago of a midshipman at the Naval Academy, who, in defiance of the rules prohibiting the display of anything on the walls of the sleeping-rooms of the midshipmen, kept in a conspicuous place the decorated text of the Lord’s prayer. He refused to remove it, even at the risk of being regarded as insubordinate, and the naval authorities finally abandoned their effort to compel him to do so. The midshipman was eventually graduated, served a long period as an officer, and is now on the retired list. A more recent instance of this sort was that of a chaplain of the regular army on duty in the Philippines, who renounced his church, and decided to preach the gospel without a creed. The War Department escaped the embarrassment of the situation by requiring that the chaplain ally himself with some church, which he did, to the great relief of those responsible for army discipline.

As for the Germans in their present difficulty, there is no way out of it save to regard the pious soldier who chooses to have Saturday for his Sabbath as insubordinate, without regard to the religious aspect of the case, and to deal with him accordingly, on the theory that he should obey orders as long as he is in a military organization; on the broad principle, moreover, that he could be a good soldier seven days in the week without being any less loyal to whatever religion he may choose to adopt.

This attitude makes little of individual religious convictions in matters of the clear command of God. But it is the world’s way. And this is modern religion, which virtually denies the supremacy of God, and bends all things to the human and temporal point of view. The world has little use for God’s Word and his commands. That is why the Lord is sending the solemn message to every nation and tongue crying the judgment hour begun in the courts of heaven above, and calling men to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Truly the times are perilous, and the Lord himself must lead on the work of witnessing, and give wisdom to his servants to know what to do and say in trying places. It is no idle dream—the picture that prophecy gives of the closing experiences in the history of the church and the world.

These things must sound like trumpet blasts in our souls, awakening every one to earnest, active service to let all men know the message of the Lord’s soon coming while yet the winds are held. Time and property and strength are to be laid upon the altar.

W. A. S.