CHURCH AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 63, 14 March 1918, Page 9

CHURCH AND WAR.

CONGREGATIONAL RESOLUTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. The Congregational Union, at its final sitting to-day, passed the following resolution: '"That this council of the Congregational Union of Xew Zealand, having considered the motions submitted by the Chri3tcbiirch delegates to the council, resolve as follows: (1) That this terrible war was forced upon a reluctant world by Germany in pursuance of its lust for world domination; (2) that our Emph-c entered the war, and remains in the war, in defence of the principles of liberty and justice, and for the protection of the rights of the smaller nations; (3) that in this great struggle for the maintenance of Christian principles it is the duty of every citizen to render the best and fullest service to the nation of which he or she is capable: (4) that the present test of conscience should be replaced by evidence as to the appellant's character and the genuineness of hie claims; (5) that all honest conscientious objectors be offered national service of a non-military character; (6) that every puniehment for breaches of the law or for attempted defiance of the law should he reasonable in character, and ehould be inflicted within the bounds of New Zealand; (7) that copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Defence."