MILITARY RECRUITING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 6

MILITARY RECRUITING

PRESBYTERY DISCUSSION ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH I (United Press Association] AUCKLAND, 9th May. A motion defining the attitude of the presbytery to the military recruiting campaign and to compulsory training aroused keen discussion in the Auckland Presbytery. A resolution submitted by the convener of the public questions committee. Rev. J. D. Smith, enjoining representatives of the Church to hold aloof from the controversy between pacifism and militarism met with objection and ! ! criticism and was eventually referred • j back by agreement for further consid- • j eration of its wording. L 1 Mr Smith’s motion was as follows: j “In view of the present recruiting camj paign and the possibility of the intro- ' j duction of compulsory training the ’ j presbytery directs the attention of all * i those whose position identifies them in * j the public estimation with the Church | to the position taken by the general J assembly and the standards of our ! Church, namely, that military service t is optional and not obligatory, and that j ! a conscientious decision either for or R j against such service will be upheld or i against such service will be upheld by j our Church. The contribution whicn ‘ ! the Church has to make to the defence i of the country is in the field of moral ) and spiritual rearmament and she must Y I not allow herself to be diverted by exi ceptional circumstances from her task "! of recruiting soldiers for the army of ! Jesus Christ.” j “We know what happened in 1914,*’ ; said Mr Smith, “when the church was e j called on by the authorities of the State _ J to give its utmost aid for the sake of | national defence and that ministers. I casting aside all restraint in some in* t j stances, gave themselves to the support e ! of military organisation. I know thera I are hosts of ministers to-day who would s I be very glad if they could recall the j words they spoke on that occasion and _! who feel that the church was let down e ! by her leaders. j “Never again must the church be ’ j dragged in at the heels of military or- >’ j ganisation to support interests that are | not identical with the Kingdom cf '*' God. If there is a betrayal similar to j what there was in 1914 she will recede ” | even more than she did then in the e§i loom of young men and women.” e I The motion was seconded by the Rev. n I R. N. Alley. ; The Rev. W. J. Comrie said he mu 4 e ! utter a protest against Mr Smith’s re,e; ferences to the action of the church t s ‘ in 1914. He hoped the presbytery would not carry the motion in that form, is “I had three sons engaged in militaiy h service.” he said, “and I conducted sera vices in three camps and I am not s, ashamed of the record of that time or r- of the action the church took." “I am convinced the presbytery e: would make a great mistake in carrvd j ing the resolution,” sai dthe Rev. P. n I Gladstone Hughes. He moved that it 1 be referred back to the committee for I further consideration. The vast ma--1 jority of the manhood of the church i would undertake military duty. »-1 Mr Smith agreed to withdraw hi* :e j motion and it was referred back for d I reconsideration in terms of the amendd j ment.