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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
an excuse for infringing the Christian moral code, the more
so as we are told Christ urged that we must render to Caesar
the things that are Caesar’s. A Christian soldier has to fight
when the State commands him to do so. But in the case of
duelling this excuse does not exist, as the modern civilised
State forbids expressly this sort of private warfare. The
principles laid down by the First Epistle of St. Peter, ii.
19-21, the Gospels of St. Matthew, v. 39, and St. Mark, xi.
25, make it abundantly clear what the Christian attitude
towards duelling should be :
(1) " For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
" For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults,
ye shall take it patiently ? But if, when ye do well, and
suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
" For even hereunto were ye called : because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
His steps." (1 Peter ii. 19-21.)
(2) " But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but
whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him
the other also." (St. Matthew v. 39.)
(3) " And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have
ought against any : that your Father also which is in heaven
may forgive you your trespasses." (St. Mark xi. 25.)
Can one conceive the possibility of one of the Saints, or
Apostles, or Martyrs taking part in a duel ? Even the
heathen—as, for instance, the Hindus, whose religion is too
often underestimated by Christians—would never fight a
duel, because it contradicts their religion. But Christian
duellists may be good church-goers, and consider themselves
orthodox and yet do not seem to realise that to fight a duel
is in direct opposition to the fundamental Christian
principles to which they profess allegiance.
A duellist cannot excuse himself on the grounds of having
acted on the spur of the moment on passion or strong
provocation, which could be considered as somewhat mitigating
the offence and minimising his personal responsibility, as
duelling often takes place days after the act of provocation,
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