The truth about vivisection : pamphlets and leaflets published by The Research Defence Society during February-July, 1910.

  • Research Defence Society (Great Britain)
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The truth about vivisection : pamphlets and leaflets published by The Research Defence Society during February-July, 1910. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    your lordship whether it is worth while to side definitely and publicly with those who uphold vivisection when adherence to it, which is not necessary to religious teaching or to episcopal dignity, is actually driving from the Church people which believe that our Lord Jesus Christ could not for a moment approve a practice which cannot escape being horribly cruel under any circumstances, whatever supposed good may result. We cannot think that your lordship would suppose that our Saviour, Who created and loves all animals, could be present at a vivisection to condone the pitiless torture of animals for a problematic or even temporary benefit to one of a higher creation when He Himself, by His own sacrifice upon the Cross, showed to eternity that the principle which animated Him was the sacrifice of the higher being for the lower, the exact opposite of the raison d'etre of vivisection. There are thousands of Christians who have now come to see that this is a moral question, which concerns each individual soul and not merely doctors and experts of one profession, and it is a constant stumbling-block to them to find that those who, from their very calling, should be the leaders in the cause of mercy to the animals, however much the interested and the worldly may mock at them, are even giving their names to the support of nameless horrors which those who have the courage and the piety to inquire into and understand are convinced can only be the outcome of the malice and cruelty of the Evil One. Even supposing we may be mistaken in our view, is it the part of charity for a Bishop of the Church to give his name to that which, having nothing to do with his sacred office, is a scandal and cause of offence to manifold members of his flock ? The Church Anti - Vivisection League solemnly implores you, my lord, to leave a society which is torturing thousands of God’s creatures every year in the name of science. I am, my lord, yours faithfully, Alfred S. Hewlett, Chairman C.A. V. League.