MILITARY TRAINING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 25 November 1924, Page 3

MILITARY TRAINING

I APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION | ' “PLEASE DON’T PREACH” j (By Telegraph.—Special to The Mail.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 24. Several sermons were lulled in infancy at the Magistrate's Court by Mr H. Y. Wlddowson, S.M., when he heard a batch of applications for exemption from military training on. the grounds that tho training was eon Urary to conscience. The applicants were all youths and they were represented uv their parents. The Magistrate aooneu the closure on eloquence. At one stage he burst out, “For Heaven’s rake turn t preach to me.” The fatjiur of the first applicant, a Christian Scientist, got into the box and the Magistrate, looking at him, said, “Well?’ “I believe in righteousness,” he began. “Get out; wo all do. I want to know,” said tho Magistrate, . “what vour objection to military training-is?” The father: "It doesn’t uplift the nation and il does not protect the country. 1 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’s the teaching of the New Testament.” “When did you get those ideas?” “It was in wartime that those tilings were revealed to-me.” “What do the Christian Scientists believe?” “We believe in the truth. I have the truth and the pdwer of protection within me.” “If the Germans had invaded this country, what would you have done?” “1 don’t know; but I do!know that when a man hits me 1 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, hut-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 an assurance that he believed as his father did 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 exemption.

.Another boy also gave a similar assurance and lie said to the Magistrate, “Thou shalfc not kill.” “Now, look .here,” said Mr Widdowson, “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- Bead one of 'the last chapters of Matthew and see if you understand that.” Exemption was granted in this case also. “Oil, 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 granted.” An Anglican applicant application was not granted. The Magistrate remarked it was the most curious case that had come before him. The applicant was a member of the Anglican Church and 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, chap ter 24: “But 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.”