CLERGY AND THE CALL TO ARMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3008, 20 February 1917, Page 4

CLERGY AND THE CALL TO ARMS

-'£ MINISTEES' ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Ghristchurch, February 19. At a meeting of the Obristcaurch rilinisters' Aseociation a motion was carried unanimously that the association calls the attention of the Government to the necessity of preserving absolute equality of the clergy of_aU churohes in the Dominion in regard to military service. They desire to protest against the employment of the authority of canon law in appeals before the Military Boards, ssince oanon law has no authority whatever in British Courts. They desire specially to protest against the statement of the Roman Catholio Archbishop that the requirement of services from priests by!

the State would he regarded as religious persecution. The association r<*sp.ectfully submits that unless absolute equality as between the clergy of the differont churches is very sternly insisted upon very grave disquiet and disturbance will be created in the Dominion. 'ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA'S ACTION ENDORSED. 'Ai the meeeting of the Hibernian Society held last evening at St. Patrick , s Hall the following resolution was passgj. "That wo as a Catholic Society heartily endorse the action taken by. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea with regard to the conscription of the clergy,and undertako to support his every ° The Wellington Cathblio Club' pawed the following resolution-.—"That-tins meeting of members of the Wotagton Catbolio Club pledges itself to support His Grace the Archbishop in whatever action he may take in regard to the treatment of the clergy trndor. the military regulations." .