PEACE MANIFESTO

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 6

PEACE MANIFESTO

OPPOSED BY PRESBYTERIAN REMINDERS FROM HISTORY. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Members of the Christchurch Presbytery to-day would almost certainly have given approval to a. peace manifesto outlawing war when Rev. Dr Erwin interposed with a forceful speech and urged members to pause and consider the manifesto, which had been drawn up by a peace committee of all the principal Dominion churches, had received approval from the 1 resbyterian General Assembly, and was then forwarded to presbyteries for their opinion. .. Dr Erwin said that he needed nothing to convince him of the evils of war.- But the manifesto went too far and took up a position which no other Christian body except the Quakers had ever taken up. Statements in the manifesto, he said, were contrary to fact and could not be sustained by the people even if they retained the presbytery's sanction. Regarding the assertion in the manifesto as to the futility of war, the testimony of history was entirely to the contrary. Where would the freedom of the British people be if our fathers had not raised themselves against the absolutism of Charles I. or against the bigotry of J antes 11. ? “We should not be quoted as having endorsed a manifesto which states that' we are assured that war as a means of settling disputes between nations is entirely opposed to the mind" of Christ. I am mot prepared to endorse such a sentiment.” Tlio liberty of the Dutch Republic was obtained by the struggle of the “Sea Beggars of Brille” against the tyranny of Spain. Were the actions of those men opposed to the mind of Christ? Could _it _ be argued that we would not be justified in bearing arms to resist the menace of Russia to-day? The setting of the seal on the manifesto would prohibit a Presbyterian from bearing arms for any purpose whatever. Ho concluded: “You may form your societies and deck the members with olive leaves, but let anything touch the liberty ofa Britisher and in a moment your peace uniform will be changed to khaki.” The consideration of the manifesto was left to a committee, no action being taken.