THE CHURCH AND THE WAR.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15724, 18 October 1916, Page 4

THE CHURCH AND THE WAR.

REMARKS BY BISHOP JULIU ( ;S.

f'l wonder whether the disciples of tho First Age, when they wrote of tho terrors which .should attend the Coming of Christ, imagined anything more dreadful than the present war," said Bishop Julius during the coursc of his address to tho Anglican Synod yesterday. ''This is a veritable Day of Judgment for nations and for institutions as it is for individuals. AVe shall not know the ' most righteous sentence of the Judge, until the earth is once more still. Then, when the" fires arc burned down, and tho embers are cold, wo shall know what is left standing, and what, as wood, hay, stubble, is consumed. St. Peter, writing of such days as these, reminds lts that judgment must begin at the house of God. It is for that reason that the Church at Home has called the nation to repentance and hope, in the mission which is now in progress. Wc have nob thought it wise to hold such a mission in Now Zealand. But there is among lis an equal need of rcpentanco and hope in God. I trust and pray that the spirit of. the mission mav penetrate our own community, and influence every parish in tho land. I have received n. message from the leaders of the mission in England, which I shall read to you at the close of ray address.

"t think it right to state that, as Bishop of the diocese, I some months ago requested my clergy on no account to volunteer for military servicp, unless and until they .had received further communication from me. It was no easy matter to restrain them. The clergy are not exempt under the Military Servicc Act, but appeal may be made in their behalf. This I shall make in every case, on tho ground that, except for tho exercise oil their ministry as chaplains, they cannot be spared from the public service in which they aro engaged—for the war will not be won by arms alone. - If the appeal is not upheld, of course the clergy will serve. It must bo remembered that seven members of my staff are serving as chaplains at the front, and another will soon be joining them. "In conclusion, I tender my respectful and loving sympathy to those ot you, and they are not a" few, who have lost sons and brothers in tho war; and I commend you all to the graco of God."