A CHURCH VIEW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8810, 13 August 1914, Page 6

A CHURCH VIEW

’PRONOUNCEMENT ,BY PRESBYTERY. Frew Association. CHRISTCHURCH, August 12. The Rev. Dr Erwin interrupted the easiness of the Christchurch Presbytery this morning by referring to the present serious situation in Europe, in which the Empire is involved. While all deprecated the need for recourse to arms and the inability to settle differences by international arbitration, he said, they recognised that Britain had been forced into war upder her obligations to her allies and to uphold her honour as a nation. He desired to see the Presbytery, express its view of the situation. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: “ That this Presbytery of Ohrist- ■ church, while deploring that recourse to arms is still found necessary to settle International disputes, realise that in the present war in Europe our Empire .has, through its statesmen, steadily striven to maintain peace among the nations, but now has been forced into war to maintain her honour and treaty obligations, as well as to defend the . rights of weaker nations against the ruthless aggression of a stronger Power, and expresses its unbounded Royalty to the Ring and Empire, and also its assurance that all citizens will gladly make the necessary sacrifices to maintain tho honour of our Empire, and ©nioins upon all, congregations within its bounds the duty of making continual intercession for tho success of our arms and tho speedy cessation of hostilities.”