A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

e of Western Canada (representing largely the M.B. Church and the General Conference Mennonites) contacted the Military Problems Committee of the Historic Peace Churches of Ontario for possible joint action. In November, 1940, a delegation of eight members, four from the West and four from the East (B. B. Janz and C. F. Klassen representing the Mennonite Brethren) met in Ottawa where they submitted to the authorities a memorandum with concrete proposals for alternative service, 48 356 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH During their first interview with Major General La Fleche, Deputy Minister of War, they were told in no uncertain terms that any form of civilian service of national importance would not be acceptable. This was a great disappointment to the delegates. After a season of prayer and serious consultation in their hotel room, the delegates felt that the Holy Spirit moved them to make an appointment with the Honorable J. G. Gardiner," Minister of War. In an interview that same day, Mr. Gardiner assured them that a civilian alternative service would be provided for conscientious objectors. In May, 1941, the Honorable Mr. Gardiner announced in the House of Commons the first call-up for Alternative Service. By September 30, 1945 (shortly after the end of the war) there were 10,870 men in Canada classified as conscientious objectors. By provinces their distribution was as follows: TABLE X Distribution of Conscientious Objectors According to Provinces'' 0 1. Manitoba 3021 2. Ontario 2636 3. Saskatchewan 2304 4. British Columbia 1665 5. Alberta 1 184 6. Nova Scotia 29 7. Quebec 26 8. Prince Edward Island 3 9. New Brunswick 2 10,870 It will be readily observed that the overwhelming majority of conscientious objectors were registered in the five western "Mennonite" provinces. Although no complete record of the religious affiliation of men in Alternative Service is available, the writer found that in four major mobilization districts 4,425 out of 6,158 CO's were Mennonites. 61 This ratio of Mennonites to other conscientious objectors would probably be an accurate reflection of the ratio on a national scale. The exact number of Mennonite Brethren in Alternative Service could also not be established. From 1941 to 1943 most of the conscientious objectors served in Alternative Service Work camps operated by the Department of Mines and Resources. Although the first call-up was for a four-month period, the time was later extended for the duration of the war. The government provided maintenance and traveling expenses to and from camp, and a remuneration of fifty cents per day. The churches were also allowed to appoint religious advisors or "chaplains."" GIVING TO CAESAR 357 After 1943, because of a general labor shortage in the country, most of the men were assigned to work of "national importance" in agriculture or industry. Another form of alternative se