Uncertainty
before the Judge
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No
matter how hostile the judge was, though, it was difficult to change
the mind of a sincere CO. Often, the judges just threw up their
hands in frustration.
“The
courtroom experience was simple. I gave the biblical reasons for
non-resistance. There were a few catchy questions such as “you
don't object to arms since you have a gun on the farm” and “what
would you do if someone attacked your sister?” They concluded
that I was one of those obstinate fellows who won't see the light.”
[MHC, 1015-12]
D.K.
Schellenberg was one of these “obstinate fellows.” He, however,
doesn't even remember all the details of his appearance before the
judge. One thing, however, has remained with him all these years.
“I
don't recall the questions asked of me but I remember answering
with Psalm 37:5 ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him
and He shall bring it to pass.'” [MHC, 1015-5]
While
the path to conscientious objection was never smooth, COs remain
thankful to the Canadian government for providing an alternative
service program. Still, the main problem was with the judges who
administered the program and who decided whether a CO was sincere
or not. Judge Adamson, for one, seemed more concerned with having
men join the armed forces than with giving COs a fair hearing. It
was not easy for him either. He was caught between the Canadian
promise to honour the peaceful values of the conscientious objectors
and thier supporters and the anti-German and pro-war positions of
other Canadians.
Also,
it wasn't easy for a judge to tell who was a sincere pacifist. Mennonites
only joined the church when they became adults, so the judge couldn't
use church membership as the deciding factor. Some judges also thought
that Mennonite leaders, not the young men, were the ones with the
pacifist beliefs.
At
the same time, it was hard to understand why judges would send COs
to jail instead of letting them do something of national importance.
Only late in the war were COs able to choose non-combatant service
with the Royal Army Medical Corps or Canadian Dental Corps. Two
hundred twenty-seven COs volunteered for this service.
Historian
Ken Reddig does not blame the judges.
“Undoubtedly
the real culprit, if one must be found, would be the slow response
of the National War Services Board in developing sufficient and
appropriate alternative service opportunities. With the knowledge
that conscientious objectors would be involved in beneficial civilian
work, rather than going back to their homes and farms while others
served in the military, Adamson as well as other judges might
have been more lenient in granting postponements to the young
men before them.” [67-68]
Read
some more about COs before the judge.
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