CHURCH AND THE BALLOT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15770, 11 December 1916, Page 2

CHURCH AND THE BALLOT.

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY'S ATTITUDE A TRULY PATRIOTIC SPIRIT. Appreciation of the patriotic- spirit shown by the Presbyterian General Assembly recently when it dealt with the question of appealing on behalf ot ministers or home missionaries called up under the ballot is contained in a letter from the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J .illen) received by the clerk of the Assembly in acknowledgment of receipt of the resolution. The letter states — "I entirely agree with you that the minute speaks for itself, and, to my mind it evidences a truly patriotic spirit, while at the same time it recognises the a U-important duties .of the clergy in this difiicult period ot the nation's history- The reading ot the minute ha*, been a great assistance to me, and I desire you to assure the members of the General Assembly that I h?ve read it with great interest, and feel oioud that, such a spirit prevails in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. . • , "Everv assistance will be given by the defence Department to nave the appeals favourably considered, which mav be sent in by the committees about to be constituted, and I should be if the conveners of the committees who may sit to decide • whether appeals should lie lodged would send a notification to tho lion. Minister of Munitions and Supplies, who is administering that portion of the Act which deals with the work of the Military Service Boards. On receipt of such notification I have no doubt that the Minister of .Munitions will make use of Regulation 9, published in the fccw Zealand "Gazette" on October 10th, a conv ol whiet I have, plea-sure in enclosing. ' TWO CASES CONSIDERED. The Home Mission Committee of the Presbytery on Thursday considered the cases'of two missionaries who were called to camo under the first ballot, and it was decided that no steps should be taken to plead exemption. Both men arc unmarried, and their charges are within a few miles' reach of other ministers, who, by an effort, may be able to undertake all indispensable pastoral effort The Sunday services, it is hoped, will be kept going by local supply- _^^_____—