OUTLAWRY OF AVAR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 121, 28 November 1928, Page 12

OUTLAWRY OF AVAR

ATTITUDE OF CHUKCHES (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. ' Tho Presbyterian General Assembly is discussing a manifesto submitted by the Peace Committee appointed by the following churches of New- Zealand: — Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational, Salvation Army, Church of Christ, and the Society-of Friends. The manifesto says: "We believe that the time has come for the churches and all men 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 shall play its part in bringing about a good and friendly relation amongst the nations." The committee regarded war as utterly opposed to the mind of Christ and was resolved to adhere to a policy urging the Christian churches and all-ministers and priests to declare for the outlawry of war as the primary task of the present generation. Dissenting overtures- were received from the Presbytery of Christchurch and St. David's Presbyterian Church, Auckland. Moving the adoption of tho manifesto, Dr. Gibb said that it was not a pacifial document. It was a claim that the Church should take the leadership to seeuroi the peace of the world. (Applause.) Such documents did not show, as some thought, dishonour to the dead. It was honouring the dead by leading a crusade for peace. The Rev. J. D. Smith (Dunedin), who seconded, said that the preparation of defence against possible enemies directed attention to the pit out of which they had been dug. The Rev, Mr. Marsh, moving the overture of the Auckland Presbytery, said that its. desiro .was for unanimity. Ho was glad to hear Dr. Gibb say that the manifesto was not a pacifist document. He (Mr. Marsh) objected to compulsory pacificism. If the manifesto set out opposition to all aggressive war he would agree with it. They* had to consider the position as far as defensive wars were concerned. To talk of the futility of war was to deny our history and to prejudice our future.