SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 13

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

GAMBLING AND DIVORCE

THE CHURCH AND WAR

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, November .5,

At the Presbyterian General Assembly the public questions committeo report was presented by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson. Regiet was expressed that the Government was not alive to the monace of gambling. • A film committee was working in. Wellington, and ef,forts were being made to support a better class of film. The matter of freedom of speech was ono to be safeguarded vigilantly. The Rev. D. M. Martin spoke of a petition in process of signature asking for fuller rights for discussion of matters over the radio. A North Auckland speaker mentioned the Testrictions on civil servants. It was agreed to urge Presbyterians to safeguard the rights of freedom of speech. The Rev. J. R. Blanchard' moved: "That the assembly express unswerving opposition to any proposal calculated «to spread and intensify the gambling spirit, and exhort all members to cultivate the Christian principle of stewardship of money so that tho spirit- of gambling may pass from the hearts of men." It was decided to set up a .committee on marriage and divorce. DOMINION FIGURES HIGH. Tho Rev. 0V D. Smith pointed out that New Zealand divorces aro six times as many as in England and Walc^. The Rev. J. D. Smith urged that ministers should carefully instiuet their young people in tho principles of marriage and urge the preparation of a pamphlet on the matter which might be used by ministeis. The .Rev. ..J.. Allan : (Christehurch) said that it was not unknown that both paities to* a divorce weio remarried in different Presbyterian Churches. Ministers were, in an invidious position ■ when asked to remarry a divorced person. A clear statement on the matter was needed. The Rev. J. Paterson urged that where a divorced party sought to make a second honourable start in marriage tho Church1 should not withhold its blessing. It was pointed out that in 1921 tho Assembly made a pronouncement along the lines of Mr. Paterson's contention. , Mr. H. H. Barton presented the tcport of the Women's Missionaiy Trailing Institute. He emphasised the fact' that the students came more and more from tho whole of the Dominion. A very fine type of -wpman was asking for training. A women workers' superannuation fund had been established, but was not very strong yet. Of the. £5000 capital required only £884 was in hand. It was urgently necessary to secure the necessary capital. Mr. Barton emphasised that this fund was separate from the women's beneficiary fund, which was for foreign missionaries. The Church was jiot yet awake to tho importance of the work. . , ' BARBARITY OF WAR. ' The Rev. F.,H. Wilkinson moved that a lengthy statement on Christianity and war be road in the Church on the last Sunday of November. The statement called upon tho Church to humble itself before God, confessing national pride, selfishness, and blindness 'to His will, with a prayer that ,His 'way be made plain to all. Only tho grace of God is adequate to meet tho difficulty of the situation before us, Mr. Wilkinson said. The passion of fear was driving towards war. A policy of creating fear was in process. The question was how to cast out fear from nations and Church. The only body able to do that —the Church—must awaken to a sense of tho barbarity of warfare and rob it of its glory. Mr. L. Stoddart urged thrtt it was futile to pass, motions against war. Members should pray to be kept from | the" wrath'to come; It was decided, to direct that the statement be read to the churches. Speaking to a motion directing that a, statement on Christianity and war be printed and handed to all members of tho Church, the Rev.' L. M. Rogers urged tho futility of such a' step in view of the fact that but one-third of. the population were Christian. The Rev; Lawson Marsh moved: "That the Assembly feels that the, time has come to makO'an urgent call to the nations of the world'to stand by their solemn obligations as defined by the League of Nations and tho Pact of Paris, and the Assembly further appeals to the constituted' authorities of tho various Churches in Christendom to urge their members to refuse participation in any war unless endorsed by the League of Nations."

Professor Collin urged that war comes suddenly, niid this made tho motion futile. The Church tin re not'divide the nation in: an hour of crisis.

The "Rev. John Allan nreed that ProfcssorCollip''< ( thought made the Church a supporter of war. A .wido cleavage of opinion was evident, h''t tho motion was carried by a majority.