p. 124 | Seventh-day Adventists Recognized as Non-combatants

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 13, 1864

Seventh-day Adventists Recognized as Non-combatants.

By John Nevins Andrews

BRO. WHITE: In obedience to the instructions of the Gen. Conf. Committee, I have visited the Provost Marshal General. The accompanying papers will show what I presented to him. These were all copied and placed on file in the department for reference in case any District Marshal shall refer any matter concerning ourselves to the Provost Marshal General. The originals have just been returned to me with an endorsement stating just what is necessary to be done before the District Marshal in case of draft.

The Marshal made no use of the pamphlet entitled "The Draft," but stated that it would be a proper document to present before the District Marshal in proof of the non-combatant views of our people. He further stated that the exemption clause of the enrollment law was not construed by him to mean Quakers merely, but to apply to any religious body who hold non-combatant views. He has issued orders to all the Deputy Marshals in accordance with this construction of the exemption clause.

I understand the proper course for our brethren in case of draft to be summed up in three things:

1. An oath or affirmation before the District Marshal that they are conscientiously opposed to bearing arms.

2. The presentation of the pamphlet entitled "The Draft," as showing the position of our people. To this it would be highly proper to add the certificate of the clerk of the church to which the drafted man belongs, showing (1) that we are a non-combatant people, (2) that the individual is a worthy member of this religious body.

3. It may be proper to introduce the testimony of the drafted man's neighbors, showing that his life has been consistent with this declaration of his faith. I believe that this course of action, which is very plain and simple, will meet the case of all our brethren and will enable them to avail themselves of the provisions of the exemption clause.

J. N. ANDREWS. Washington, D. C., Sept. 1, 1864.

The following are the papers above referred to:

[A]

MICHIGAN MILITARY AGENCY, [On E, near 7th Street North,] WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 31st, 1864.

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAS. B. FRY, PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL:

Sir,—Permit me to ask your special attention to the bearer, Rev. J. N. Andrews a minister of the Religious Organization known and recognized as the "Seventh-day Adventists," a body of Christians, residing in small numbers in each, or nearly all, of the Free States, who "are conscientiously opposed to the bearing of arms, and who are prohibited from doing so, by the rules and articles of faith and practice of such religious denomination."

Rev. J. N. Andrews comes duly accredited as the agent of that organization to ask of you, that the relief contemplated in Section (17) of the Enrollment Act, approved March 3d, 1863, may be extended to each, and every, member of their organization, provided they shall on oath, or affirmation, declare that "they are conscientiously opposed to the bearing of arms, and are prohibited from doing so by the rules and articles of faith, and practice, of their church, and furnish satisfactory evidence that their deportment has been uniformly consistent with such declaration."

Permit me to ask your attention to the endorsement of Austin Blair, Governor of Michigan, on page 9 of the accompanying pamphlet named "The Draft," also to express to you my full confidence in the loyalty and patriotism of the petitioners.

Your obedient servant, J. TUNNICLIFF, JR. Mich. Military Agent.

[B]

WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 30th, 1864.

SIR:

I have the honor to present the accompanying Documents, showing that I am the duly accredited representative to the Provost Marshal General, of the religious denomination styled Seventh-day Adventists, a people unanimously loyal and anti-slavery, who because of their views of the ten commandments and of the teaching of the New Testament cannot engage in bloodshed, and who therefore ask that the provisions of the enrollment act of March 3, 1863, and of July 4, 1864, designed to meet such cases, may be applied to themselves.

Respectfully submitted, JOHN N. ANDREWS, Minister of the Gospel. To Brigadier General James B. Fry, Provost Marshal General.

[C]

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 22, 1864.

WE, the undersigned, General Conference Executive Committee of the denomination of Christians calling themselves Seventh-day Adventists, hereby empower Eld. John N. Andrews, an accredited minister of our denomination, to act in our behalf in laying before the Provost Marshal General, the sentiments of Seventh-day Adventists in relation to bearing arms and engaging in war.

JOHN N. LOUGHBOROUGH, } General Conference JOHN BYINGTON, } Ex. Committee GEORGE W. AMADON. } of S. D. Adventists.

[D]

NEWFANE, Niag. Co., N. Y., Aug. 15th, 1864. To PROVOST MARSHAL, GEN. FRY:

Dear Sir,—I learn that there is an effort being made by the denomination of Christians calling themselves Seventh-day Adventists to avail themselves of the exemption clause in the enrollment law, which applies to those who are opposed to war from religious and conscientious convictions.

My knowledge of them has been quite limited, but so far as I have known them, I have known them to be thoroughly loyal and upright. I have understood them to be, from conscientious convictions founded upon the ten commandments, opposed to engaging in war, and have also understood that their course has, as far as possible, been in accordance with such convictions. How far the clause in the law referred to, will be construed to go by the department I am not aware, but I am in favor of giving them a fair and impartial hearing, and all their rights under such law being granted to them.

If entitled to such exemption they will be able to show their claims to it. I believe them to be a very conscientious, upright and consistent people, and that their principles and practices have been uniformly in harmony.

Respectfully, BURT VAN HONE. Late M. C. 31st District, N. Y.

[E]

State of New York, 28th District, Office of the Provost Marshal, ROCHESTER, Aug. 24, 1864. BRIG. GEN. JAMES B. FRY, PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL:

Sir,—I have the honor to introduce Rev. J. N. Andrews of this city, who visits Washington upon business connected with his society. He is known to me as a gentleman of integrity, and any statement he may make can be relied upon.

Very Respectfully, Your Obt. Servant, ROSWELL HART, Captain & Provost Marshal, 28th District, N. Y.

To these the following response was received from the Provost Marshal General:

PRO. MAR. GENL'S. OFFICE, September 1st, 1864.

RESPECTFULLY RETURNED TO REV. J. N. ANDREWS: Members of religious denominations, who have been drawn in the draft, and who establish the fact before the Board of Enrollment that they are conscientiously opposed to the bearing of arms, and are prohibited from so doing by their rules and articles of faith, and that their deportment has been uniformly consistent

with their professions, will be assigned to duty in hospitals, or to the care of freedmen, or shall be exempt on payment of $300, to such persons as the Secretary of War may designate. By Command of the Provost Marshal General, THEO. MCMURTRIE, Capt. & A. A. G.