MILITARY APPEALS.

Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 10

MILITARY APPEALS.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —I just want to say how much I agree with “ Onward, Christian Soldier,” that it is time that all the young ministers who are studying night and day to gain bigger pay rolls should be bundled l up and sent into the fighting line, and then the sincere lay preachers who give up their Sundays after working hard in shops or workshops all the week would get a chance to fill the churches that the ministers have emptied l . I have lived in two districts where I have seen this done repeatedly. The ministers were the first to proclaim this a war to save Christianity. Well, let us see a. battalion of ministers in every British Army. There wall ho plenty of real Christian men to carry on. —I am, etc.. Young Mother. August 18.

TO THE EDITOR. <s; r> —“ Onward Christian Soldiers ” raises a very significant issue—namely, whether, if “it is right and Christian to wage war, as the churches proclaim, ministers of religion should not have to fight with the other members of the community. From time to time appeals are made hy leading dignitaries of the major religious denominations in respect of ministers and also divinity students. According to the reports of the proceedings, it would appear that such appeals are automatically adjourned “ sine die,” ■without inquiry as to how long those in of whom the appeals aro made have been iu the category stated. On the other hand, appellants _ on the grounds of conscientious objection, most of whom belong to small sects, are subjected to an exhaustive interrogation in this respect. Why the distinction? It certainlv appears to the mail in the street that the clergy are a very privileged class in the community, as far as military service is concerned.—T am. etc.. . . Sine Praejudicio. August 17. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Onward Christian Soldiers ” iquires why ministers should be exempt from military service. I say: “Why

pick on the ministers?” And I ask: “ AVI iat about the priests and Marist Brothers? ” Can the writer inform me how many (if any) of these gentlemen are serving their country? Some time ago a few of these gentlemen were called! up, and a long list of their names appeared in the paper appealing against military service. A certain priest appealed for them. Every one of them was exempted, and, what for, may 1 ask? Why should any of them ho exempt from military service? I see no reason why they should not fight for their country; the most of them are big, able-bodied men. and that is what the Armv needs. ■ I think you will find that quite a number of ministers fought and were killed in the last war, and some also have gone to tliis war. How many priests and Marist Brothers have gone?—l am, etc., » Be Fair. August 18. . [Three priests have gone from Dunedin as chaplains.—Ed. E.S.]