For His Name's Sake.

ELSEWHERE in these records will be found the personal witness of many who

listened to the voice of the Ever Living One, and were imprisoned or even sentenced to death for following in His steps.

My mournful privilege is to witness concerning one who became a victim, "even unto death," of what Prof. Peake (himself a supporter of the late war) described as "the Satanic ingenuity of the machine for dealing with conscientious objectors."

Our Bro. Arthur Wilson, of the Church of Christ at Hamilton St., Blackburn, along with three other brothers in the same family, refused absolutely to assist in any way the machinery of Moloch, for the massacre of mankind, devised by the rulers of this present evil age. And the consequence was he was called upon to endure two years and four months hard labour in various prisons before disease, seizing upon a body enfeebled

by hard labour, under nourishment, and damp cells, hurried him into the embrace of death.

Prison! hard labour! disease! death! As Emerson says, "It is said all martyrdoms looked mean when they were suffered." And yet, generation after generation,

There never was any question as to the sincerity of Arthur Wilson's convictions. The military representative said in open court, to Arthur's father, who was a witness, "We are all convinced of the sincerity of your son."

The Chairman of the Tribunal said, in giving their verdict, "The Tribunal are of the opinion that you have established conscientious objections, and they will put the matter before the Central Tribunal."

This decision was reported in the press, along with Arthur's declaration that "He denied the right of any Government to make slaughter a bounden duty."

Nevertheless, Arthur Wilson went to prison in due course, and ultimately to death, because he was unable to accept conditionally that to which the law gave him a right absolutely. 'The Satanic ingenuity of the machine sent him back, again and again, to the rigours of the most cruel and vicious form of prison life,

a form of life so terrible in its effects on the vitality of the prisoner, that the law forbids the vilest criminal to be sentenced to more than two years hard labour.

For two years and four months the savage machine of a brutal and debasing militarism slowly ground out the life of one of God's saints, and during this time he was winning the affection of scores of fellow-prisoners, of all creeds and of no creed, by his quiet, stedfast, inoffensive manifestation of Christian character. So that when his brother "Jack" came from Strangeways Gaol, Manchester, to the funeral, he was able to bring the following message, which he received from a large body of fellow-prisoners there:

"Give the deep sympathy of us all to your father and mother. Try to go forward with a good courage. Your dear brother was, and is still, a great and noble soul, and his faithful life shines brighter above the dark sorrow which his death has caused us all. We shall draw near with you to the common Father of us all, and ask that you may be comforted and sustained."

"I have no further advice to give, except that you should continue to repose your whole trust in Him whom we call Master, for all things work together for good to them that love God."

Attached to the same letter, as a postcript, was the following:

Writing to the Central Tribunal he says:-

"I am resolved at all costs not to render any service contributory to the prosecution of war. Believing my action to be in accordance with the law of Christ."

And again:-

"Whatever be the decision, I am prepared to suffer for my deep faith, of long standing, in the cause I have at heart, namely the cross of Christ and its purpose, for in Him I repose my trust, and I will not betray my loyalty by calling a truce to my Christian career when its influence is most needed."

The foregoing statements were all made previous to arrest and imprisonment. Lack of space forbids too many details, but two or three extracts may be given to show that persecution and suffering never caused him to falter in his determination to serve the Prince of Peace.

At his first court-martial, he said:

"Believing that the principles of Jesus Christ are the best means of bringing Peace, I am compelled to refuse military service."

After eighteen months hard labour in prison, at his fourth court-martial (for the one alleged offence), he said:-

"It is generally admitted that a return to Christianity as practised in the early days would make war impossible. I believe this! Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to do all in my power to attain this end."

Six months later he writes to his sister and her husband.

"'I can say after two years of imprisonment, that I would rather rot away for another ten than compromise my faith, and my only regret would be that I would be separated from loved and loving ones."

I have said my writing of this article was a mournful privilege. I may add that it is also a source of pride, and joy, and comfort. As one who knew Arthur Wilson from the time when he was just a wee boy, and helped, in some small measure, to form his convictions and his character, in the Lord's-day school, the church, and in the friendly intercourse of home life, it was, and is, a matter of joy and pride to find that, when the time of trial came, his convictions stood the test, his character developed, and his stedfast faith clung to the things eternal. He was "faithful unto death." And when the end came:-

He died in Strangeways Gaol, Manchester, on December 11th, 1918, at the age of 27, and his body was interred on the 17th at Livesey, Blackburn. To myself, at the urgent request of the family, fell the sad duty of conducting the funeral service, and the services held in memory on the following Lord's day, and I can testify that the comfort of his

father and mother, his brothers and sisters, and of us all who were present, was that he had died for the Faith; for the cause of Peace and Goodwill; for Liberty, for Conscience and for Christ.

And now, how does his death affect us? Dr. Guthrie tells a story of martyrdom some two hundred or more years ago, when Margaret Wilson and a companion were tied to stakes on the shore of Solway Firth, to be drowned by the incoming tide. As her companion, who was much nearer the advancing wave of death, succumbed, their murderers said to Margaret, "What see you yonder?" And while the waters rose cold on her own limbs, she replied, "I see Christ suffering in one of His own members." Brave and glorious words, born of a living faith.

So may our faith see in Arthur Wilson the sufferings of Christ, and in the multiplication of such as he was the hope of the world for deliverance from the folly and insanity of militarism and the reign of brute force.