CHURCH AND WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 32

CHURCH AND WAR.

QUESTION OF MILITARY

TRAINING.

VIEW OF METHODIST CONFERENCE.

AUCKLAND, March 1.

Considerable difference of opinion was revealed at the sew Zealand Methodist Conference when the question of the Church’s attitude to military training was discussed. The question was raised by «he presentation of a report from the Public Morals Committee.

The report stated that the committee recommended the adoption of the findings of the Auckland Synod as follows:—“That the Government be urged to abolish the ystem of compulsory military training as an expression of its practical co-operation in the matter of disarmament. We recognise the value of discipline to the youth of this Dominion and recommend the substitution <■ a system of compulsory physical training instead of the military system now in operation; and also we are strongly convinced that the laws relating to military training should make provision for exemption from training and service on the ground of individual religious conviction, apart from the tenets of the church or denomination with which the objector may be connected.”

As soon as the question of adopting the report was put to she meeting, -the Rev. A. B. Chappell moved—“ The previous question,” the effect of which, while permitting discussion, was to allow members to vote that the motion be not put. He thought it undesirable that a motion so controversially phrased and bound to provoke sharp differences of opinion should be voted on without much further investigation. The motion that the question of adopting the report should not be put to the meeting was carried by 43 votes to 37, and endorsement of the report lapsed.

The conference unanimously endorsed the following resolution :—“ Inasmuch as the Christian Church is'an expression of the siprit of the Prince of Peace and an attempt to realise the truth that is in Him all dividing lines whether of race or class are transcended; and inasmuch as resort to war as a means of settling disputes is not in harmony with the spirit of Christ; and iruu auch as war is universally acknowledged as the most grievous hindrance to the triumph of this spirit among men this conference summons ill. our people throughout the Dominion to unremitting prayer and effort to secure the renunciation of wai’ as an instrument of national policy and the adoption of peaceful methods for the settlement of all Internationa. differences and a changing of the attitude and practices which constitute the roots of war.” ’