Adventists and War

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 8

Adventists and War

Sir,—As the representative of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in this district, I'would call attention to an article appearing in last Friday’s issue, under the heading, “A Danger Now,” “Preaching Pacifism," "A Division of Effort." Although 1 recognise that you are quoting the words of Mr. W. F. Stilwell, of Wellington, nevertheless the heading of the article appearing in your paper is misleading to the public and is a misstatement of the actual teachings of the church. ,It is not a fact that we preach pacifism and it is therefore doing the church an injustice causing it to be misrepresented in this way by such a statement’ being made in the public press. We, as a people, during the World War and also the present, have rendered' valuable service to the Government of our land and in other countries, by doing all in our power in every possible way, with the one exception only of not bearing arms. Our young men have been recognised for their bravery,-and devotion to duty, many times in the face of extreme danger, some having been mentioned for distinguished service. It is incompatable with pacifism for anyone to do what we as a people have done recently in New Zealand, viz: to equip and and maintain a large number of our food vans with ambulance and stretcher outfits, at our own expense, ready to be used at a moment’s notice at the call of the Government. And again in Australia the whole of our tent equipment, numbering some hundreds of tents, was offered and accepted by the military authorities for use by the soldiers. It is therefore quite untrue to state that anything that we are doing as a church constitutes “A Danger.” It is untrue that we “Preach Pacifism,” and also untrue that we in any way cause a “Division of Effort” in connection with the war. P. GLOCKLEY.