PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1927, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

MILITARY TRAINING. PRESBYTERIAN'S! (.ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 18. The Presbyterian General Asemhlv to-day, carried the following resolution : “That in view of the necessity of loyal co-operation with the League of Nations, which has from the first contemplated disarmament as one of its primary objects, and chief responsibilities, and which is now pressing on in the matter, the Assembly records its conviction that the military activities of this country should be reduced as much and as rapidly as possible and that as a step in this direction, compulsory military training, should he abolished.” The voting on the resolution was; For 150, Against 17. The Assembly also considered the case of A. M. Richardson (Auckland) who was convicted by the Magistrate for failure to render military service under the Defence Act-

Dr -Gibbs moved a resolution 'declaring the Assembly’s conviction of the inviolability of rights of the individual conscience, stating that the Assembly’s recognition that Richard’s attitude was one which a Christian might feel obliged to take by reason of his interpretation of his Christian duty; and claiming for members of the Presbyterian Church who held conscientious objections to military training on religious grounds, the right of exemption under thev*Defence Amendment Act (1912). Rev. AY. MncLean (Oamaru) opposed the motion which he said dealt too much with the rights of the individual and not enough with his duties. He submitted an Amendment the purpose of which was to set out the attitude of the l church generally with reference to Richard’s case. The debate was adjourned.