ANTI-WAR STATEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 214, 10 September 1935, Page 16

ANTI-WAR STATEMENT.

GROUP OF CLERGYMEN. LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER. Uncompromising refusal, based on religious objections, to participate in war or preparation for war was voiced in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, dated August 2!), and signed by a number of clergymen and others. The letter read as follows: — "We conceive that present world conditions create an increasing possibility of war, which may involve this country as well as other parts of the Empire. The possibility of the use of war measures is foreshadowed by intensified war preparations in Xew Zealand, and by recent utterances of your own, and of other responsible Ministers of the Crown. It has, therefore, appeared to us necessary to state respectfully, yet very definitely, our own attitude should there be such a recourse to arms. "We are members of the Christian Church, and we believe that such membership sets definite limits to our obedience to tho behests of the State. For us one "of these limits is reached when the Government requires of us participation in war or in preparation for war. To engage in war is for us a denial of tho spirit and teaching of. Christ as declared in the Gospel. "We do not at all desire to embarrass the Government in its essential work of community organisation, but we feel it essential to state plainly that no plea of necessity or of policy, however urgent, will lead us to co-operate in any ■way in war measures. To us has been committed by Christ the grspel of reconciliation, and' wo shall, under all circumstances, continue to proclaim by life and word, peace and good will to all men. Our conviction is that the enda for which the Church exists cannot be served by the method of war. "(Signed) Lorna Hodder (Methodist), R. S. Maunder (Methodist), Lex Miller (Presbyterian licentiate), D. M. Martin (Presbyterian minister), A. C. Barring-, ton (Methodist), Edward 11. Dowsctt (Society of Friends), O. E. Burton (Methodist minister), Percy Paris (Methodist minister), John H. Ilowell (Society of Friends), Jonathan H. Haslam (Methodist minister), Nathan R. Seddon (Methodist), Dr. James Gibb (Presbyterian minister), H. W. Newell (Congregational ist)." To this Mr. Forbes replied in a letter dated September 4: — "I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter signed by yourself and other gentlemen with reference to the possibility of Avar, and in reply to say that I have made a careful note of your representations."