LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 142, 18 June 1929, Page 5

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.

BIGHTS or METHODISTS,

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRALVIXG

ime. suiiuestions for the re placemen of compulse"rv military servie? with useatl svstems likely to--benefit the \outh of Yew Zealand were made last evening bv the Rev. C. G.' 'Scrtnigeour, Tit aa address in the Strand Theatre,. Declaring that the Church could not remain neutral on such .-a,.question as„-Xhe Christian conscience in-its relation .to eompulsorv military - training,. : the nreaeher said he did not claim to-oe sivinsr expression to the attitude Methodist Church" on the subject: "However, one had only to attend chttrch-eon-ferences to find that there was; an- e.rersrowins feeling against compulsor» militarv training. ' ? "That the Church, will Tolerate .such an outrage against Christian conscience as was demonstrated in the. Court recentlv is beyond my comprehensioß, said Mr. Scrimgeour." r "The - divinity students concerned are known to no personaUv. Thev are really fine Christian men,; who are prepared' to sacrifice their personal . than prostitute the conscience God. has given them. Because they have the conraee of their convictions, their ciJ rishts* are taken away, , yet other young men of ereedal distinction _ are granted exemption without being insulted' and branded as partly stubborn and partly Minora nt voting fools; ■ ""Why should the right to conscience in this matter be granted to the Quakers and the Seventh Day Adyentists, and denied to the Presbyterians and Methodists';" asked Mr. Scrimgeour. "The law says in effect: 'If you are an Adventist, pass on.. It you axe a Presbyterian you are. either a coward , or a fool, and you shall be taught a lesson.' Men of coarage in every age have Lifted up their voices against- such iniquity. Although such men . are branded as traitors in their own day they are hailed as martyrs in the next age. The one chief objection to compulsory military training is, from a Christian standpoint, that the individual conscience is interfered with. This in itself is sufficiently strong as an argument that th& Defence Act should be a.mended-'" Mr. ScrimgeouTr said ttie true and: ery was usually raised that those who attacked the system did not offer any constructive suggestions. He believed that those who wished to render voluntary military service should be.allowed to do so, but the expensive Military machine of to-day should-be abolished. If. .the State was as earnest in its endeavour to assist boys to find jobs as. it .was in the conduct of the .military system great and lasting good could be effected- Model farms could be established in every centre, and young men could -be sent to such institutions, instead of to military camps, for terms of three and four weeks annually, so that they might receive instruction in scientific and practical farming. In this way a "land, sense"' would be developed. As an alternative form of service, Mr. Scrimgeour suggested" - the establishment of gymnastic institutions, where physical culture classes. coultL be conducted. He ventured to say that more good was done for- the youth • of' the Dominion in the Y-M.C.A. gymnastic classes in one week "than military parades accomplished in a year.