TAKING PART IN WAR
CLERGYMEN'S OBJECTIONS LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER Uncomprising refusal, based on religious objections, to participate in war or preparation for war was voiced in a letter to the Prime Minister, dated August 29, and signed by a number of clergymen and others. In the course of the letter the following statements were made:— "We conceive that present world conditions create an increasing possibility of war, which may involve this country as well as other parts of the Empire. The possibility of tho use of war measures is foreshadowed by intensified war preparations in New Zealand, and by recent utterances of your own, and of other responsible Ministers of the Crown. It has, there, appeared to us necessary to state respectfully, yet very definitely, our own attitude, should there be such a recourse to arms. "We are members of the Christian Church, and believe that such membership sets definite limits to our obedience to the behests of the State. For us one of these limits is reached when tho Government requires of us participation in war or in preparation for war. To engage in war is for us a denial of the spirit and teaching of Christ as declared in the Gospel . . .
" Our conviction is that the ends for which the Church exists cannot be served by the method of war. (Signed) Lorn,a Hodder (Methodist), R. S. Maunder (Methodist), Lex Miller (Presbyterian licentiate), D. M. Martin (Presbyterian minister), A. C. Barrington (Methodist), Edward H. Dowsett (Society of Friends), 0. E. Burton (Methodist minister), Percy Paris (Methodist minister), John H. Howell (Society of Friends), Jonathan H. Haslam (Methodist minister), Nathan P. Serldon (Methodist). Dr. James Gibb (Presbyterian minister), H. W. Newell (Congregationalist)." To this Mr. Forbes replied in a letter dated September 4: — " I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter signed by yourself and other gentlemen with reference to the possibility of war, and in reply to say that I have made a careful note of your representations."
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350910.2.175
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 14
Word Count
331TAKING PART IN WAR New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 14
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the New Zealand Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries and NZME.