CHURCH AND WAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 7

CHURCH AND WAR.

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION.

Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Nov. 9. In tlie Presbyterian General Assembly to-day Rev. E. H. AVilkinson moved that a lengthy statement on Christianity and war be read in their churches on the last Sunday of November. The statement called upon the Church to humble itself before God, confessing national pride, selfishness, and blindness to His will, with prayer that His way be made plain to all. Only the grace of God was adequate to meet the difficulty of tho situation before us. Mr AVilkinson said the public questions committee sought to avoid an extreme statement. Signs of progressive thinking were evident, but international security was not so evident as formerly. The passion of fear was driving toward war and a policy of creating fear was in process. “The question is liow to cast out fear from the nations, and the Church is the only body able to do that. The Church must awaken a sense of the barbarity of warfare and rob it of its glory, lie said Mr L. Stoddart urged that it was futile to pass motions against war. Members should pray to be kept from the wrath to come. It was decided to direct that the statement be read in the churches. Speaking to a motion directing that tho statement on Christianity and war be printed and handed to all members of the Church, Rev. I>. M. Rogers urged the futility of such a step in view of the fact that but one-tlnrd of the population were Christian. Rev. Lawson Marsh moved 1 : ‘ That tho Assembly feels the time has come to make an urgent call to the nations of the world to stand by their solemn obligations as defined by the League of Nations and the Pact of Paris, and the Assembly further appeals to tlie constituted authorities of tho various Churches in Christendom to urge their members to refuse participation in any war, unless endorsed by tlie League of Nations.”

Professor Collie urged that war comes suddenly and this made the motion futile. The Church dare not divide tlie nation in the hour of crisis.

Rev. John Allan ui-ged that Professor Collie’s thought made the Church a supporter of war. The Church of Scotland had approved of a similar motion.

AVide cleavage of opinion was quite evident, but tho motion was carried by a majority.