WAR AND PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 8

WAR AND PEACE.

METHODIST VIEWS.

IMPORTANCE TO YOUTH.

AGITATION DISCOUNTED

"There is no more moral question in the world to-day than that of war and peace," said Mr. M. N. Seddon, when presenting the report of the Youth Department at the annual conference of the Methodist Church of Xew Zealand yesterday afternoon. Mr. Seddon said that the question waft of such vital importance to the youth of Xew Zealand that the Youth Board of the Church had given considerable time and thought a* to how best the hearts and minde of young people could be helped by facing the question from a Christian point of view. Mr. Seddon said that .the great mase of the people, as well as church members, abhorred the thought of war, and yet they had not found an adequate solution of the problem, and the Christian Church in general had not given an undivided answer to the world. It was the faith of many Christian people that only the mind and grace of (jod could be the means of saving the people of the earth, and it was in the faith, with a spirit of obedience to Divine will, that an effort wm being made; to present to the youth of the diurch a statement setting out the two main school* of thought held by Christian people. A panrphlet was about to l>e published by the Youth Board for distribution to Bible class leaders and senior Sunday school teachers. It was clearly understood, the speaker added, that although Christian thought wae divided, the mind and purpose of Cod wae not divided, and that it wae the fundamental task and function of the Church to discover the mind and declare it to the world in thought and action. Some had advised the Youth Board to let the matter drop, but that to the mind of the board was impracticable and undesirable." Youth was claiming guidance, and to evade the issue would be a tragic dereliction of duty. The board therefore asked for the sympathetic co-operation and support of the whole Church. Pacifist Question*. The Rev. considered that the conference should discourage the issue of a pamphlet, and felt that they should not further agitate the minds of Bible class members with pacifist questions. He did not think that any good would be done by continuing the agitation. There had been endless debate on the question, and the true work of the Church had not been advanced. The pamphlet would come from a section with pacifist views, and he felt that it was a false step. It would mean' that another debate would be started, and the Bible classes would be turned into debating societies. The Rev. E. D. Patchett said he was afraid that the board wae using the conference agenda for the purpose' of propaganda of certain views. The Rev. E. S. Emmitt considered that the proposal was a false step. "I do not think any good can be done by this constant agitation," «aid * the Rev. Mr. Eaton. Further discussion on the subject wae deferred in order that other aspect* of the report should be dealt with firat.