CHURCH AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 13

CHURCH AND WAR.

ATTITUDE TO SERVICE. ■ i CONFLICTING OPINIONS. "Some may feel that their conscience compels them to take up arms in the service of their country. Others may believe that under no circumstances ran war be regarded as a meaae by which the Kingdom of God can be upheld," said the Rev. J. D. Smith, in putting forward a motion defining the attitude of the Auckland Presbytery to the preeent recruiting campaign and to compulsory military service at a meeting of the Presbytery last evening. The question aroused objections and keen debate. The motion read: —"In view of the recruiting campaign and the possibility of the introduction of compulsory training, the Presbytery directs the attention of all those whose position identifies them in the public estimation with the Church, to the position taken by the General Assembly and the 1 standards of our Ghureh, that military service is optional and not obligatory and that a conscientious decision either for or against such service will be upheld by our Church. Further, the Presbytery expresses its conviction that the supreme contribution which the Church has to make for the defence of the country is in the field of moral and spiritual rearmament, and that ehe must not allow liergelf to be diverted by exceptional circumstances from her task of recruiting soldiers for the army of Jesus Christ." Speaking to the motion, Mr. Smith made it clear that hie motion referred to those identified in the public mind with the Church, principally to uuni*tere. The motion was seconded by the Rev. R. N. Alley, who declared that the Chureh had a message, and it was its I duty to proclaim it —that God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ was the only solution of the world's troubles. ' Keen debate followed, and the motion was finally referred back to committee for further consideration. Mr, Smith, however, reiterated that the statement regarding optional and not compulsory service was in accord with the position taken by the General Assembly and by the standards of the Chureh. Be was not prepared to sanction any fundamental amendment.