THE CONSCIENCE PLEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 December 1924, Page 7

THE CONSCIENCE PLEA.

SERMONS OUT SHORT. MILITARY EXEMPTIONS. Several sermons weie killed in infancy at the Christchurch. Court by Mr. H. Y. NYidctowson, 53. M., when he heard a batch of applications for exemption from military training, on the grounds that the training was contrary to conscience. The applicants were all youths, and they were represented by their parents. The Magistrate applied the closure on eloquence. At one stage he burst out, “h'or heaven’s -sake, don’t preach to me.” The father of the first applicant,. a Christian Scientist, got into the box, and the Magistrate, looking at him, said, 4 ‘Well “I believe in righteousness,” he began. “Get out; we all do. I want to know,” said the Magistrate, “what your objection to military training is?” The father: It doesn’t uplift the nation, ancl it does not protect the country. I believe in a higher power. The Magistrate: If a man hit you twice, what would you do? Turn the other cheek. The father: I would not hit him back. I’d^ treat him kindly. You believe that? Yes, it is the teaching of the New Testament. When did you get those ideas? It was in the war time that those things were revealed to me. What do the Christian Scientists believe ? We believe in the truth. I have the truth and the power of protection within me. If the Germans had invaded this country what you have done? I don’t know, hut I do know that when a man hits me and I don’t hit him back— If he hits you with a bayonet? Sir, I want you to know that I’m quite loyal to my country, but I’m doing more good for the country— Now, please don’t preach to me I thank heaven that I don’t think as you do, ’ said the Magistrate. The boy gave assurance that he believed as liis father said, and exemption was granted. A second boy, who had nothing to say apart from the fact that training to kill went against his conscience, was also granted exeiuption. Another boy also gave a. similar assqrance, and he said to the Magistrate, ‘Thou shaft not.kill.” Now 7 , look here,” said Mr. Wicldow.soil. ’ don’t preach to me for heaven’s sake. If you study the Bible you will find something that you don’t understand. Many better people than you don’t understand it. Read one of the last chapters of Matthew, and see if you understand that.” Exemption was granted in this ease also. “Oh, this is another. You belong to the international students, do you? Is that your genuine belief?” asked the Magistrate. “Yes, sir,” said the third applicant. “Well, I am quite sure the military authorities do not want to be bothered with you. You will be more trouble than you are worth. Exemption was granted. An Anglican applicant did not appear, and his application was not granted. The Magistrate remarked it was the most curious case that had come before him. The applicant w 7 as a member of tile Anglican Church. He wrote to say that training was contrary to his religious beliefs. The passage in St. Matthew referred to by the Magistrate is verse 43, chapter 24—“ bu- know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch, the thief -would come he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.”