A WORLD WITHOUT WARS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 6

A WORLD WITHOUT WARS

THE CHURCHES’ IDEAL SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS JOINT DECLARATION TO BE ISSUED In virtue of a resolution unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at its last meeting, expressing! strong approval of the League of Nations and appointing a committee with instructions to communicate with official representatives of all the churches in Now Zealand, a meeting was hold on Tuesday afternoon in St. John’s classroom to consider- the matter. Dr. Gibb occupied the chair, and there were present:—Representing the Catholic Church, Fathers Cullen and Murphy and Messrs. P. J. O’Regan and P. Hosking; representing the Congregational Church, Rev. J. R. Glasson; also the Rev. Mr. Rollings (Baptist), Major Toomer (Salvation Army), and the Rev. Messrs. Comrie, Orr, Inglis, and Catherwood, with Messrs. W. Hopkirk. A. Howitt, and Armour Thompson, members of the General Assembly’s committee. Dr. Gibb read a letter from Archbishop O’Shea, in which, after apologising for unavoidable absence from the meeting, and stating that he had appointed) representatives, the Archbishop said: “You may rest assured that the object for which the meeting is convened will have the wholehearted sympathy and support of Catholics. The coming together of Christians for such a purpose cannot fail, as you say, to do good,, and I sincerely" wish the movement initiated by your General Assembly every sue-' cess.” The Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), in a letter expressing his deep regret at his inability to be present, said: “I think that in a movement so eminently Christian there is room for some specific action on the part of the churches. I hope that I may have an opportunity of attending some future An apology was received from the Rev. Drake, who regretted the inability of the Methodists to attend, owing to their conference then taking place in Auckland. They were in hearty sympathy with the movement. Dr. Gibb stateci that tho General Assembly’s resolution contemplated the formation of a League of Nations’ Union under the auspices of the united' churches, but since tho assembly there had come into existence a good many branches of a citizens’ league, one branch being in process of formation in Wellington. It might not, therefore, be necessary that those present should form themselves into a union for propaganda purposes, . but it was exceedingly desirable that the united churches should issue a pronouncement on the question of tho ' League. Let them make* known to the whole community that they believed in a warless world, and were determined in all legitimate ways to work for that end, and the result could not be otherwise than happy. The meeting they were then holding was deeply significant. The mere fact that every church in New Zealand was represented was in itself an omen of most happy augury. If they agreed to send out a statement of their attitude to the League of Nations Union it could not fail greatly to assist that union and generally to strengthen the determination of the people against war. Doctrinal union of the churches was. yet far off, but there was no reason in the world why they should not be united for the realisation of great ethical ends m national and international questions. (Applause.) If there had been such a union of all the churches throughout the world, he, for one, believed that tho world would have been spared the unspeakable calamity of 1914 to 1918. He moved: — That this meeting resolves to issue a statement strongly supporting the League of Nations Union, and giving expression to the ever-deepening conviction of Christian people that there must be no more war. The motion was seconded by the Rev. S. R. Orr and supported by Mr.. O’Regan and several others and adopt-sub-committce, consisting of Bishop Sprott, Revs. E. Drake and J. R Glasson, Commissioner Hodder, Mr. O’Regan, and Dr. Gibb (convener), were appointed to draft the statement and submit it to a later meeting Attention was then given to the question whether the churches should not seek to constitute a union which, while not interfering in any way with the Citizens’ Union, might prove auxiliary to that body. No definite cone listen was reached, and the matter will come up again for consideration at tho next meeting. . When the statement is issued an effort will be made to b’-ing about similar combinations of the churches in at least all the centres of New Zealand ■ The General Assembly had appointed in each of the 18 Presbyteries P committee to act m’ co-operation with the Wellington executive and use will be made of these committees -o secure, if possible, a full representation of the convictions of the Christian churches in this country on the questions of peace and war.