The Substance of a Pamphlet, Entitled a Solemn Review of the Custom of War: Showing That War Is the Effect of Popular Delusion, and Proposing a Remedy

The Substance Of A Pamphlet, Entitled A Solemn Review Of The Custom Of War: Showing That War Is The Effect Of Popular Delusion, And Proposing A Remedy by Noah Worcester. This volume collects a set of pacifist tracts issued by the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace, advancing the claim that war arises from popular delusion and is incompatible with Christian ethics. Worcester’s central piece, Solemn Review, argues that warfare corrupts nations, destroys lives, undermines justice, and should be abolished through peaceful reform, education, and the creation of international tribunals to resolve disputes. The book also includes Clarkson’s Essay on the Doctrines and Practice of the Early Christians as they relate to war, Erasmus extracts on war cited as authorities, Rees’s Sketches of the Horrors of War drawn from the 1812 Russian campaign, and David Bogue’s Discourses on Universal Peace among others. Together, these works advocate non-resistance, the diffusion of gospel-inspired peace, formation of peace societies, Bible and missionary activity, and practical paths such as education, arbitration, and global cooperation to end war.