AGAINST WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 6 June 1927, Page 4

AGAINST WAR

CHURCHES UNITE

PEACE MANIFESTO

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED

There has recently been a new development in inter-church relations in this country in the formation of a United Peace Committee, on ' which all the larger churches are represented. It is strongly felt by many Christian people and ministers that the Church with her message of universal human brotherhood is bound to say something concerning the great questions ■■ of international relations, and to use all her influence to build up goodwill and maintain peace. This new committee has been brought into existence to enable the churches to co-operate in this direction. In this movement, which is following the lines of. similar movements that have been working vigorously in Britain and: America for some years past, al Ithe churches find common ground, Catholic and Protestant alike standing shoulder to shoulder. The personnel of the committee is as follows:— Church of England—Bishop Sprott, Archdeacon Johnson, Archdeacon Hansell, Mr. H. E. Evans. Presbyterian Church —Dr. Gib.b (chairman), Rev. J. .A. Allan. (secretary), Rev. R. Inglis, Messrs. D. G. Clark, and W. Hopkirk; "■■■': Roman Catholic Church—Very Rev. Father Connolly, Rev. Dr. M'Rae, Messrs. P. ©; Hosking,T. B. Gusscott, and P. J. O'Regan (treasurer). Methodist Church—Revs. A. N. Scotter, E. D. Patchett, J. H. Lohore, and Mr. R. S. Maunder. . s - ■ Baptist Church—Revs. F. E. Harry and W. S. Rollings. Congregational Church—Revs. W. M. Holland, E. R. Weeks, and P. J. Bothwell. Salvation -v ■ Army—Col. C. Knott and Lieut-Col. D: Gunn. ■ Church of Christ—Pastor W. G. Carpenter and Mr. W. R. Hibburt. Society of Friends —Mr. and Mrs. Dowsett...-, y.,.. ■• ; ■■:'. '-'. ; . ■ , The = first task the committee set itself was the drawing-up of a manifesto setting fevth its convictions and aims. The next step will be to ask each of the churches concerned to approve the document . and officially endorse it. The text of the manifesto, which was adopted unanimously, is as follows :— TIME FOR DEFINITE STAND. "We, the members of a Peace Committee to which delegates have been appointed by the authorities of the following .churches of the Dominion, namely: The Church of England, the Presbyterian Church, the 1 Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Congregational Church, ■ the •■"■ Salvation Army, the...Church of v Christ,; and the So-! ciety of Friends, .^being assured, that war as a means of settling disputes between nations is utterly opposed to the mind of Christ, believe that the titne has come for the. Churches and; all njen of (goodwill to. take a definite stand against war, and so to use their influence with-the people and Government of ; this -Dominion that our country ahall play its 'part in bringing about good and friendly, .relations amongst the nations. ■~y.y.- J -:.:. :: "With this end.iivview we are resolved: to adhere to the .following platform:— "(1) Realising the : evil, nature of the usual causes, the conditions, and the results of war, we regard jit: as the. most inadequate, disastrous, and wrong method of attempting to settle international digSutes, and urge all the people of the hurdles, and all ministers ad priests in particular, to an outspoken and uncompromising declaration that the war system and the Gospel of Christ are diametrically and irreconcilably opposed. "(2) While acknowledging with admiration the courage and self-sacrifice nobly displayed in past wars, we warn all against the tendency to extend to war itself the admirations which belongs only to such courage and eelf-sacrifice—qualities for which men can find ample scope under conditions of peace. "(3) We believe that peace can be secured only as adequate machinery for the settlement of disputes is Bet up and made effective by the hearty support of the great nations, and we consider that the influence of the British Empire is of especial significance in this respect. We shall therefore co-operate with the League of Nations Union in urging that this Dominion give the fullest support to tho work of the League of .Nations. "(i) We shall also support every other effort which may be made for the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship among the nations and the removal of all actual and potential causes of dispute; and in particular we shall urge upon the whole community the duty of maintaining a spirit of calmness, reasonableness, and conciliation in'the face of any threatened international crisis, so that I the attainment of a settlement may not be ' made more difficult by provocative words | or.acts on the part of the Government, the Press, or the people. "(5) In view of the intolerable burdens; imposed on the nations b^ the maintenance of vast armies and navies, and especially of the fact, now generally recognised, that preparation for war inevitably leads to war, we shall urge upon the Government vigorous co-operation with all efforts for universal disarmament; and realising that the task is one of such extreme difficulty that it may well prove impracticable apart from the active sympathy and co-operation of the people, we' shall appeal to the churches and all men of goodwill to be unceasing in their advocacy of disarmament and in the endeavour to quicken in the mend of the community a sense of the momentous urgency of this matter. ■•.... . ■ - "(8) We shall also explore the proposals being supported by the Federal Council "of Christion Churches in America and 1 the World Alliance for ■■promoting' inter- , national friendship through the churches', with reference to the outlawry of war by.f an international conference, treaty court,; and code of law, and shall disseminate: information about this scheme, with a view to linking up our efforts with those of kindred organisations overseas. "(7) Realising that in all the matters above referred to an educational campaign to inform public opinion is necessary, we shall endeavour to lead the churches to regard it as a. foremost duty to instruct the minds and consciences of their members, and of the people generally, not only as to the waste, the horror, the wickedness, the demoralisation, and the sheer futility of war, but also as to the ways in which peace may be finally established amongst the nations of the-earth. ;..... ALL MEN AS BRETHREN. "In conclusion, being convinced that the gracious design of Almighty God in' sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world was that His Kingdom might come, ar.d all men dwell together as brethren, and believing that 'not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit' is this Kingdom being set up, we feel justified in calling on all Christian people to adhere to the principles of peace even at a risk of loss and humiliation, in the faith that by our living in the spirit of Christ that day will indeed Be. brought nearer when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'"