The response of the English Wesleyan Methodist Church to the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902.

摘要

The relationship between religion and imperialism around the turn of the twentieth century has been broadly examined, but this study fills a specific lacuna: the response of the English Wesleyans to the Boer War. Several scholars have established that Wesleyans generally adopted an imperialistic stance and supported the war effort, however, the basis on which the church did so has gone largely unexamined. This study reveals that the Wesleyan denomination contained a variety of opinions ranging from intense pro-war nationalism to equally strong anti-war convictions. The Wesleyan image that emerges contains more diversity than that widely depicted in the literature.;Among the topics investigated are the historical relationship between English and South African Wesleyans; the attitudes of Wesleyans toward the Boers; reasons for supporting or opposing the war; ministry to the troops; various war-related controversies; and the influence of traditional interests, such as Temperance and anti-slavery work, on the development of the Wesleyan response. Politics and the election of 1900 are discussed to the extent that they are relevant to church attitudes about the strife.;The focus of the analysis is on the internal response and debate within the Wesleyan Church. Once the war was under way Wesleyans mobilized their resources for the spiritual welfare of the troops. They commissioned chaplains, sent literature and a variety of comforts, and collected money to sponsor programs relating to the conflict. A sense of national duty and patriotism animated these activities. Wesleyans believed that they contributed to the war effort by intensifying some of their traditional operations such as Temperance work and Soldiers Homes.;A minority of Wesleyans objected to the war. The reasons justifying the conflict, in their view, were weak and hypocritical. Moreover, the war was contrary to Christianity and resolvable without recourse to force. The Pro-Boer presence in the Conference and the "no politics" rule prevented the pro-war majority from issuing an official statement supporting the war.