The War! The War!! by Joseph Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1862

The War! The War!!

By Joseph Clarke

I HAVE been very anxious to know duty respecting the war, not so much for fear of the draft, as because I want to see treason receive its just deserts.

Consequently, I have written to Bro. White, to know if it would be allowable for us to go into the ranks.

I have had my fancy full of Gideons, and Jephthahs, and fighting Davids, and loyal Barzillais.

I have thought of brave Joshua, and the mighty men of war that arose to deliver the Israel of God, from time to time.

I have thought of Daniel as he supervised the affairs of Babylon, of which the military interest composed a chief part.

Often as I have thought of the baseness of slave treason, and how it hinders the message from moving forward, how it instigates Kansas raids, how it prompts to fugitive slave laws, and Dread Scott decisions, how it separates families, how it does violence to innocence, how it tars and feathers, and hangs, innocent travelers, pedlars, school-masters, &c., how it makes the soil barren, and the government corrupt, how it tantalizes, how it tyrannizes, how it traduces, in fact how it sums up in itself every horrid crime, how it brands every good patriot as a fanatic, I have wished sometimes that I had it where Joab had Absalom, and almost fancied that the time might come when a regiment of Sabbath-keepers would strike this rebellion a staggering blow, in the strength of Him who always helped his valiant people when they kept his statutes.

Last winter I had the war fever so high, that it injured me somewhat. I am well aware, that I felt too deeply on the matter, and when I mentioned my feelings to a judicious friend, he warned me of my danger.

But I find as I look to God for light, he does not seem to frown upon me for my hatred to treason.

Well I know, that the North has sinned, and this is the greatest of our sins. We have not abhorred the deeds of the bloody deceitful southern tyrants, but have bowed, and scraped, and truckled meanly to the monstrous system of slavery.

While I have been going probably somewhat to an extreme in my hatred to treason and oppression, I see that on the other hand, many are whining lest they might be drafted.

Now brethren, let us all stop pestering Bro. White on this subject, and go to God for guidance.

I have no doubt that when the time for drafting arrives, God will shed light on the path of the S. D. Adventists.

We have the gift of prophecy, and if we look to God, he will guide our leaders, and they will walk in the light. Praise the Lord.

For one, I am willing to abide the counsel of the Lord. Either to stand still and see his salvation, or to fight till my sword cleaves to my hand, or to march around treason as the hosts of Israel did around Jericho.

I do not expect the full destruction of slavery; but the south must be humbled, else the slave cannot get the present truth.

Still we must be patient, for we at the North have sinned by our cowardly submission to the monster in years past, and must meet our punishment. After that, let southern traitors tremble.

JOSEPH CLARKE.