The Blood Libel — British Protest, 1912
We desire to associate ourselves with the protests signed in Russia, France, and Germany by leading Christian Theologians, Men of Letters, Scientists, Politicians, and others against the attempt made in the City of Kieff to revive the hideous charge of Ritual Murder—known as the ‘Blood Accusation’—against Judaism and the Jewish People.
The question is one of humanity, civilization, and truth. The ‘blood accusation’ is a relic of the days of witchcraft and ‘black magic’, a cruel and utterly baseless libel on Judaism, an insult to Western culture, and a dishonour to the Churches in whose name it has been falsely formulated by ignorant fanatics. Religious minorities other than the Jews, such as the early Christians, the Quakers, and Christian Missionaries in China, have been victimized by it. It has been denounced by the best men of all ages and creeds. The Popes, the founders of the Reformation, the Khalif of Islam, statesmen of every country, together with all the great seats of learning in Europe, have publicly repudiated it.
Signed by:—
The ARCHBISHOPS of CANTERBURY, YORK, ARMAGH; the CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP of WESTMINSTER, and the HEADS of all other CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS.
The BISHOPS of LONDON, OXFORD, WORCESTER, WINCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, &c.; the DEANS of WESTMINSTER, CANTERBURY, NORWICH, RIPON, &c.
The DUKES of NORFOLK and NORTHUMBERLAND, and the EARLS of ROSEBERY, SELBORNE, and CROMER; LORDS MILNER and RAYLEIGH; A. J. BALFOUR, SIR EDWARD CARSON, GEN. N. G. LYTTELTON, &c.
FREDERIC HARRISON, A. V. DICEY, SIR WILLIAM OSLER, SIR FRANCIS DARWIN, SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY; JAMES A. H. MURRAY, NORMAN LOCKYER, J. G. FRAZER, &c.
SIR OLIVER LODGE, the PRINCIPALS of eleven OXFORD COLLEGES; the MASTERS of seven CAMBRIDGE COLLEGES, S. R. DRIVER, F. C. BURKITT, A. E. COWLEY, W. SANDAY, H. B. SWETE, ESTLIN CARPENTER, A. E. GARVIE, A. C. HEADLAM, KIRSOPP LAKE, &c.
JUSTICES EVE, WARRINGTON, and VAUGHAN WILLIAMS.
A. C. DOYLE, THOS. HARDY, ANTHONY HOPE, A. QUILLER-COUCH, G. B. SHAW, H. G. WELLS, &c.
The EDITORS of the Edinburgh, Quarterly, Fortnightly, Hibbert, Quest, Spectator, Nation, Daily Telegraph, Manchester Guardian, Daily Chronicle, Daily News, Pall Mall Gazette, &c., &c.