During the Civil War, those who claimed exemption from the draft by paying $300 to the government were called noncombatants. The historian Peter Brock states in his writings that those persons who were exempted from military service in 1864 would now be considered conscientious objectors. Please keep this important thought in mind.

“Although membership in a peace church, as we have seen, was not a requirement of the act of March 1863, the act of February 1864 demanded such membership from applicants as a prerequisite for exemption as conscientious objectors…. But on 4 July Congress passed an amending act which, although it did not alter in any way the provisions made in February for conscientious objectors, did abolish the general privilege of escaping military service through commutation.”61

Since the government offered three choices, what official decision was made by the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

“In none of our denominational publications have we advocated or encouraged the practice of bearing arms; and, when drafted, rather than violate our principles, we have been content to pay, and assist each other in paying, the $300 commutation money.”62

Summing up this statement, it leaves not a shadow of doubt that Seventh-day Adventists as a denomination adhered solidly to a conscientious objection position to anything that pertained to war and the military service. The above document was signed on August 2, 1864 by three men of the General Conference Executive Committee. It was sent to Austin Blair, the governor of Michigan.
The folowing decision was made by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at its full session held in Battle Creek, Michigan, May 17, 1865:

“. . . we are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war and bloodshed, as being inconsistent with the duties enjoined upon us by our divine Master toward our enemies and toward all mankind.”63

The Adventist Church took the conscientious objector position. This is clear. I would like to emphasize the words “we are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war.” In 1863 the Lord gave special instruction to His messenger, Ellen G. White, regarding military service.
Here is what was revealed to her in vision.

“I was shown that God’s people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith. In the army they cannot obey the truth and at the same time obey the requirements of their officers. There would be a continual violation of conscience.”64