BRITAIN'S JUST CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 55, 6 March 1915, Page 4

BRITAIN'S JUST CAUSE

♦ — THE GLORY OF OUR EMPIRE. (BT TBLKORAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, sth Marcli. The Methodist Conference's morning session was preceded by a 'service of intercession in connection with the war. Immediately following this the Rev. P. W. Fairclough's resolution on the war was unanimously carried as follows : — "While deploring the- appeal to brute force in differences between rational beings, and mourning over the honors and miseries of the present world-wide conflict, this conference is profoundly convinced that Great Britain is absolutely innocent of the awful guilt of letting slip the dogs of war, and has a cause transparently just before God and the nations. We rejoice in the unanimity and loyalty of all parts of our far-flung Empire, particularly of New Zealand, in supporting the Motherland in the hour of her need* We also rejoice in the valour and growing strength of the King's forces, and we join earnestly in prayer that God will defend the right and cause the grinding militarism of Germany to cease from earth. We refard the British Empire, with alt its efects, as being in practical righteousness the largest instalment of the Kingdom of God that has yet arisen among men, and we earnestly pray that Almightly God will avert calamity from that dispensation of righteousness and liberty wlu'ch it lias been the glory of our Empire to spread over the world." On the motion of the- Rev. G. Knowles Smith, the following resolution was also carried unanimously: — "That this conference notes' with intense satisfaction the ready response given by the young men of our Church in all parts to the Empire's call. We earnestly pray that the Divjne Father will strengthen them in the hour of temptation, protect them in time of danger, and speedily bring them safely, home."