EXEMPTION OF CLERGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16946, 7 March 1917, Page 7

EXEMPTION OF CLERGY

CLAIM FOR EQUAL TREATMENT.

DISCUSSED BY DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Dimedin Presbytery, _at its meeting yesterday, gave somo attention to tho position of tho clergy in tho present Empire call for men. The Rev. A. Cameron said that at a meeting of tho Publio Questions Committee it ■was _ unaninjously agreed to appeal to tho Minister of Defence to take such steps as ■would secure for ministers of all denominations equality of treatment under tho Military _ Scrvico Act. If ministers of any denomination were to bo exempted from military scSrviee, then the ministers of all denominations should bo. exempted. On the other hand, if ministers were not exempted aa a class, _fchcn_ thoso who could not serve in tho fighting line because of canon laws or tows laid upon them should bo called upon to render such non-oombatant service as the State might require of them. This question of tho relation of tho military and tho Church was a very difßciflt one for tho authorities. That must bo recognised by everyone. But it seemed to the committee that there ought to be equality of treatment all round. It had_ been 6aid that there was ■ equality, since if the representative of any Church appealed a certificate would l»o granted. That looked like equality of treatment. But it was not so as far as the Presbyterian Church was concerned, becauso the Minister of Munitions had declined to givo a certificate in regard to home missionaries. Theso home missionaries stood on the same footing in tho Presbyterian Church as the curates stood in tho Anglican Church. If in tho Anglican Church they would be curatcs and would bo exempted on the bishop's appeal. It had been declared that each application would be decided on its merits. That -fros not so with tho Anglicans. If tho bishop appealed in respect to a curat© in his first year thei Minister of Munitions sent a certificate; which tho Military Board acted upon. An appeal was mado on behalf of a homo mi&'•donftiy in tho Clutha district, and on tho liana day that that fact was reported in the papers hero tho Military Board gave relief to a minister at Lumsden. The Rev. J. Kil patrick, as representing the General Assembly, appealed for this home missionary, and the appeal was granted, but tho board granted it, not becauso tho Assembly appealed, but because the man had three brothers at tho front. In Westland tho appeal on behalf of a homo missionary was declined on tho ground that tho applicant was not a fully-ordained clergyman. He maintained that ae a mutter of right the hotr.e missionaries of the Presbyterian Church were as much entitled to relief as tho curate's 'of 'iho Anglican Church, and certainly as much as the students of the Roman Catholic Church. Then there was tho other point that if ministers were not exempted as a clam, those who were under vows or considered themselves bound by canon law, should all be called on to render non-combatant service. He moved that tho Presbytery approve of the action of the committee in writing to the Minister of Defence. . The Rev. Mr Sutherland seconded the motion. The Rev. A. W. Banmont said there was one phase of tho matter that seemed to him very strange. He had always thought that under the British constitution when a court of justice was set up it was independent of the government. It was. tho dory of the land that our courts were so. It was intensely repugnant to a Scottish court or an English court to have that independence interfered with. To see it stated that a court could not help_ itself, but must grant relief because a Minister sent an order, seemed to him like a prostitution of justice. It meant that the Minister was arrogating to himself a position over the court, and fcuch a thing must weaken confidence in the court—for everyone knew how Ministerswere open to approach by political parties. He did not'know whether tho. Presbytery could do anything to protest against'such a state of affairs. Tho Rev. Mr Sutherland said the Minister had stated that tho boards were free to act, and were not bound by the certificate. Tho Rev Mr Kinmont said it had been stated in the press that the boards' were bound by the Minister's request, and this had not been denied except by Sir James Allen. That gentleman had teen ap proached, and he said bo could not grant exemption to tho homo missionaries. Tho Rev. Mr Trotter said it seemed to him_ tho boards must accept tho Minister's certificate. The Rev. Mr Cameron said that tho Minister of Defence was emphatic that it rested with the boards, and that the boards could ignore tho certificate. The Dunedin Board said the • matter had been taken out of ita hands, and yet' the Minister said tho power was with the boards. _Tlie Rev. W. Gray Dixon said tho position the Presbyterian Church took was that she did not object to her ministers being combatants,_ but he did not think that justified them m resisting the unwillingness to serve a3 combatants of such of their ministers no conscientiously hold that they were precluded by canon law. The motion was carried. Theßev. Mr Sutherland moved that the committee bo asked to prepare a statement of tho facts for. publication, so that the people might understand a position which wa? nc.w confused. Mr W. Henderson seconded the motion, which was carried.