NO PART IN WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 10

NO PART IN WAR

THE METHODIST CHURCH PROPOSED COVENANT REJECTED BY CONFERENCE (Peb United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. The proposed covenant not to take part in war which was to be sent out to young people in the church was rejected by the Methodist Conference today. The covenant submitted was that as amended by the Auckland Synod, which allowed participation in wars which had resulted after arbitration and the efforts of the League of Nations had failed. When the subject was brought up the Rev. Mr Blight opposed the method of a covenant, and said that the opinion of conference should be sent out as advice. The Rev. E. S. Emmett also opposed the covenant, saying that it was not equitable for the church to come down definitely on one side and leave many people dumb on* the subject. The decision was one for the individual to make. Mr E. H. Burton said that the conference should endeavour to reach unanimity on the subject of peace. There might be a war in two years or two months, and the church was not ready to prevent it. After the covenant had been rejected the president, in reply to a question, said that there was a resolution affording protection to conscientious objectors. He stated that the Youth Committee did not wish to assifme the prerogative of guiding the conference to which it would ■remain loyal. Many of the youth of the church were far from having reached any strong conviction on the subject of war.

The conference reaffirmed its general resolutions of last year on the subject of peace with the exception of the clause referring to the status of chaplains and another appealing to the Government and the people to discourage thoughts and policies of rearmament, and protesting against inflammatory publications and speeches. A motion was brought forward by Mr R. C. Clark, principal of the Parcata Methodist Training College—" That the defence authorities should be urged not to give chaplains military rank but allow them to work on a similar standing to that of Young Men's Christian Association workers or as privates or non-commissioned officers." He said that the aim of the proposal was to enable chaplains to be in closer touch with the men.

The Rev. Moses Ayrton said that the church should be free in appointing chaplains. Chaplains should not be under the military authorities. The Rev. Mr Emmett said that there were times when a chaplain needed the authority of his rank. He was supported by other speakers. The motion was lost.