A SCRIPTURAL DUEL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13047, 9 January 1917, Page 3

A SCRIPTURAL DUEL.

RELIGION AND MILITARY SERVICE. ORCHARDIST ARGUES WITH CHAIRMAN OF BOARD. NO EXEMPTION FOR BRETHREN. Charles Werner Ijang,- an orcliaroist. of Kaiapoi, was the only conscientious objector at the Rangiora Military Court yesterday. The case was marked by a Scriptural duel between appellant and the Chairman (Mr J. S. Evans). "Let us hear your views," said the Chairman. Lang replied that he would do ambulance or non-combatant work, but ho could not take life. The Chairman: That means that you would hold a man down while someone else did it. You would provide the means by carrying cartridges?" Lang: T couldn't do that. One of the things that the Bible teaches me is t;i love my enemies." The Chairman : "Do you love your enemies?"

Lang: ''•'Well, [ am supposed to by the Word of God." The Chairman: "Do you love the Germans and approve of what they are doing!'" Lang: "No, certainly not." The Chairman: "Do you love them?" Lang: "I could not take life. I certainly cannot say that I love what they are doing." The Chairman : "You people that take up. the literal interpretation of the Bible must follow the letter. It is uo use following what suits you literally and leaving the other alone. You see, you have given me one text, and I still ask you: 'Do you lovo your enemies?'

Lang: "Well, Christ loved them, and we are supposed to." The Chairman: "That is not the answer. Give us your next text." Lang produced a Bible from his pocket and referred to Romans 12:17: "Recompense to uo man evil for evil." The Chairman: "That is good as an everyday principle, but does not touch the question." Lang then quoted Romans 12.20: "If thine enemy hunger feed him, if ho thirst, give him drink." The Chairman: "That is all right, but it does not say, 'lf your enemies

come to fight you you should run away.' You are a religious man, aren't you?" Lang: Well, I am a saved man. The Chairman : Well, Jo you pray to God for victory? Lang: We pray for those in power; isn't that praying for victory? The Chairman: Why do you pray to God for victory when that involves thousands of lives? How do you expect God to bring about a victory that you are not prepared to take part in? Lang: I am prepared to do my share. The Chairman: What denomination do you belong to ? Lang: I belong to the Brethren, and we all .take about the same stand. The Chairman: I don't know about that. I have not come across two that have agreed yet. Lang: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. The Chairman: But it seems to me that you are badly contorting and misapplying it. . Lang: I think the Word of God is plain. The Chairman: You are told to render unto Cajsar the things that are Qesar's. Lang: And unto God the things that are God's. The Chairman: Yes, an 3 yet you pray to God for victory. Lang: That is'as far as I - can go'. The Chairman: It's prettv far. You are told also, if a man taketh away your coat you are to give him your cloak also. Doesn't that mean you must pay tribute to Caesar and give obedience to the powers that bo?. Lang: I don't think it means to take life. . _ ' The Chairman : What did Christ say. "I have come not to bring peace on earth but a .sword. Brother shall rise up against brother, and daughter against mother-in-law" (I cannot say it quite off by heart). Didn't he tell His disciples to sell their cloaks and bnv swords-. What for?

Lang: What did He say to Peter when he .smote off the servant's ear? The Chairman: He told Peter it was His mission to give His life a ransom: for mankind. Under these circumstances. Christ did not want protection by the sword. Do you think Christ would sanction your standing by and seeing brutality going on at the front? Is. that your idea of Christ? The appellant gave a somewhat rambling answer to this question, and the chairman .gave up the contest by announcing the luncheon adjournment. The chairman, on resuming after luncheon, said that in Christehurch the board had asked the Brethren for their constitution, creed or tenets, and none had been supplied. There was a great difference of opinion among'the Brethren, a good many serving, and even the man who had apuoared before the boird in Christ-church had several sons at the front, some of them with commissions. "I could not do it." said Lang. - "Your own opinion is of no value," said the chairman. '-You must belong to a religious body, the tenets and doctrines'of which declare that the bearing of arms is contrary to Divine revelation."

"Yes," said Lang, "but soma of them are afraid to stand for the truth, and they-know that they are doing wrong." "But you are prepared to uphold the arms of Joshua," said the Chairman. "In any case you do not follow the Scripture. You-have got a very nicelittle farm with a very fair margin of profit. You are told to sell all you have and give to the poor, to have neither scrip nor purse:' You are a follower of the Man Who hath not where to lay His head. You should be consistent; you should give to the poor. The Scripture is very emphatic about that, much more so than on not bearing arms. There is direct authority on° the point. Why are you laying, up property? You have not to let your neighbor want?" The appellant said that he had to do as things were. He admitted that he had a brother aged 22 years who was helping his father on another orchard at Styx. • , ' The Chairman said that appellant was occupied in an industry that was not productive and was not even an essential industry. He had no dependents and none of his people were doing anything towards the war. His brother might be able to look after the olace. "On the ground of religious objection." the Chairman added, "the other Boards have decided, and I agree with them, that the Brethren do not bring ■ themselves within the section. They leave it to the individual view. As for the Board, we do not think there is any such prohibition in the Bible anywhere. We do not think that God and Christ would sanction or approve of any of His followers turning their backs on the women and children who want protecting. There is a text that want careful considering : 'Many shall say to me in that day,' Lord] Lord, in Thy name we have done wonderful works, we have cast out devils and; have done all sorts of things, and the Lord shall say. Depart from me. I never knew you: I do not know," added Mr Evans, "who that is supposed to apply to, but it certainly applies to .some people who honestly believe they were doing good work. Tt is just possible that some off the Brethren may be included." "I do not think so," said the appellant. - "Neither did they,", said the chairman. "Because they were surprised, when they heard the Lord's decision." The appeal was dismissed, the chairman remarking that appellant would be oliowc-d two months to arrange his affairs.

Appellant: What about taking up arms! I won't do it! Tlip I'luiii'man: That Trill be a matter for the military authorities to deal -with.