wfn.org | Newsline: Brethren Archives deemed a treasure in book on conscientious objection

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

ARCHIVES DEEMED A 'TREASURE' IN BOOK ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

(July 22, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The Brethren Historical Library and Archives h as been called a "national treasure" by Steven J. Taylor, author of the new  book "Acts of Conscience: World War II, Mental Institutions, and Religious  Objectors" (Syracuse University Press, 2009). The archives are located at  the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.

In the book's acknowledgments, Taylor praises the Brethren Historical Libra ry and Archives along with the Mennonite Church Archives in Goshen, Ind., a nd the Swarthmore (Pa.) College Peace Collection. The author did extensive  research at each location, and says, "There are endless books to be written  based on the rich historical documents maintained at these archives."

Taylor's book documents how a group of young conscientious objectors who wo rked in mental hospitals as part of their Civilian Public Service (CPS) dur ing World War II, attempted to reform the mental health system after the wa r. They made public the abuse and poor services endured by patients, and le d a reform movement to improve conditions in mental institutions.

CPS was created and funded by Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers as an alter native to military service during World War II. With the approval of the US  government, young men who expressed conscientious objection to the war wer e assigned to work of national importance, such as fighting forest fires, s erving as guinea pigs in scientific experiments, and working as attendants  in mental hospitals.

"Acts of Conscience" is available from Brethren Press for $45 plus shipping  and handling, call 800-441-3712.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

(Ken Shaffer, archivist at the Brethren Historical Library and Archives, co ntributed this report.)

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org