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THIS article only covers what was known as the "Central Fund," which was brought into being to deal with cases out of touch with groups of Churches or in cases of isolation.
The kind of response by many to the regular appeals for the above fund reminds one of the old saying: "Sympathy without relief is like mustard without beef," and also James 2:15-16: "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"
The financial side of a movement is generally considered a good indication of its popularity. Apply this rule to the C.O. movement within the community known as "Churches of Christ" in Great Britain and Ireland, and it was certainly very unpopular.
The amount received in all for this "Fund" was £154 9s. 11d., and it may be tabulated as follows:-
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£ s d
From Individuals 115 17 11
From Groups 17 11 6
The Church at B. 1 0 0
The Church at P. 8 0 0
The Church at K. 7 10 0
The Church at H. 4 10 0
TOTAL £154 9 11
An analysis of the contributions for the dependents of those brethren who refused "Military Service" was a painful surprise, and reflected the spirit that prevailed amongst the Churches of Christ.
One would have thought, in view of the fact that the fund was not for the benefit of the brethren who refused to "bear arms," but for their dependents, that there would have been a ready and liberal response. Instead, there was a time when very real distress prevailed, even to the extent of being destitute of the bare necessities of life.
In looking over the list of subscribers, one is painfully aware that there were very few outside of those who allied themselves with the C.O. movement, but we must gladly acknowledge that there were a few who contributed, though not agreeing with the attitude some of our brethren had taken. It is a greater pleasure to record that several Churches, though not unanimous in their attitude towards the war, sent on several substantial amounts.
It will be of interest to some to know that several sums were sent representing the contributions
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taken at the Lord's table in one of "His Majesty's Penal Settlements" of this country. A Church meeting in a house has been immortalised by being recorded on the page of "Holy Writ." The Church in a prison, mentioned above, in its act of worship in giving to such a fund will, without doubt, have been registered in Heaven.
There were times of anxiety in the work, when needs were pressing and had to be met, but it had its compensations, for it has been counted an honour by the writer to have been associated with the movement in any way whatever.
N.B. - The first paragraph of this article needs to be kept very clearly in mind when considering the financial figures presented. Very much more was done, of course, for the dependents of our brethren who resisted militarism, by the various groups, in their own districts, than is here recorded. The above was additional to the work of groups and individuals locally.
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my wearied soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee,
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
G. MATHESON.
***
"We had to come to the conclusion that the way to deep and abiding joy is just the same as that traversed by the Master: the way of the Cross."
From "Correspondence," page 115.