Exemption From Military Service

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 9

Exemption From Military Service

Sir, —Your issue of February 6 contains a report of various appeals against military service on conscientious grounds, including one made by a student of Christian Science. Regarding the reported statement of that one, while in Christian Science there is no sort of compulsion so that each student obeys the dictates of his conscience in this respect, the official attitude of the Church is set out in a message from the Christian Science Board of Directors in Boston, published in the "Christian Science Sentinel” of January 4, 1941, and reads, in part, as follows: “Questions are asked as to whether religious reasons may be used for exemption from the draft. It should be said that a Christian Scientist could not claim exemption as a conscientious objector without misrepresenting Christian Science, for in the Church Tenets or platform of the Christian Science Church no specific reference is made to participation iu war or for training therefor. On the other hand, Mrs. Eddy says on. page 277 of ‘Miscellany,’ ‘But if our nation’s rights or honour were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and women would be armed with power girt for the hour.’ ”

While every Christian Scientist detests war. yet, in present conditions of the world, war may be the lesser of two evils, and where there is no other option would be his choice. Thanking you for the privilege of making our position quite clear. —I am, etc., A. E. F. COURT. Christian Science Committee on publication for the North Island of New Zealand. Auckland, February 10.