In Great Britain there has been much controversy and some anger over
the “disabilities of conscience.” Men have been found willing to
fabricate “conscientious scruples.” Of these an official under the
Military Service Acts justly speaks with severe reprobation, and he
emphasizes “the bitterness with which a man who is required to leave
wife, children and livelihood, and does so with a quiet dignity of
which I have been a respectful witness in hundreds of cases, regards a
conscientious objector, remaining at home and enjoying the fruits of
other men’s sacrifices.” He accepts religious objection to combatant
service as legitimate ground for exemption, but would require from
such objectors the performance of other duties which war creates.
Conscientious objections are apt to emerge as the demand for men
becomes more searching and opportunities for escape from military
service upon other grounds become more remote. And, in order to guard
against imposition, since “having in your mind is nothing, for it is
common learning that the thought of man is not triable,” conscientious
objection has been made a ground of exemption in Canada only for
those who belong to some well recognized religious denomination which
forbids combatant service by the articles of its faith in effect when
the Military Service Act was passed. Those who are able _bona fide_ to
place themselves in this category escape upon statutory grounds. It
would be unwise and unjust if this were not so. But while religious
objection is a lawful ground for exemption, it affects combatant
service only, and such objectors who enjoy the privileges, although
refusing the duties required of the ordinary citizen, remain liable for
any other branch of the national service.