CHURCH AND WAR

Southland Times, Issue 22419, 5 September 1934, Page 3

CHURCH AND WAR

PRESBYTERY RESOLUTION.

OBJECTION TO PROPAGANDA.

The general question of war has been under consideration by the Southland Presbytery during the last two or three months, the subject being referred in the first instance to the Public Questions Committee. After deliberation the committee tabled at the July meeting of the Presbytery. the following resolution as a recommendation to the Presbytery:— That the Presbytery of Southland, recognizing that national peace is the Christian ideal, and according to the mind of Christ, expresses itself as strongly in favour of arbitration as opposed to an appeal to arms; would view with gravest apprehension a breakdown of the Disarmament Conference; strongly objects to war propaganda in the Press, on the public ”• platform or in secondary schools; urges international co-operation and tile endeavour on the part of all to understand the viewpoint of other nations and peoples; and advocates renewed support of the League of Nations and a campaign of education to this end. At that meeting the Rev. A. G. Mackintosh Carter, convener of the committee, formally moved that the recommendation be adopted. The motion was carried, the Rev. J. H. Thomson being the seconder. The Rev. C. J. Tocker said then that it was a most vital matter. At the next Assembly meeting there would be a definite movement by a section of the Assembly to oppose war to the extent of refusing to send out men or chaplains to the front should war break out. .

He went on to speak of the trend of the great nations and said: “What is the attitude of the Christian Church towards war? I think we want to look at this matter fairly and squarely, and at our next meeting we should make it the order of the day for an hour.”

An amendment to the motion embodying Mr Tocker’s suggestion was carried unanimously. Owing to pressure of business at the last meeting of the Presbytery, in August, it was decided to postpone the discussion until yesterday as the order of the day in accordance with Mr Tocker’s amendment. It had been expected that a good deal of discussion would have centred round the question yesterday, but actually no debate took place. Mr Tocker was absent, while Mr Carter had forwarded an apology for absence.

When the subject was to be dealt with the clerk (the Rev. W. H. Howes) said that Mr Carter was not present. “I don’t know what you are going to do about it,” he added. The Rev. John Chisholm moved that a vote be taken, this being agreed to. The motion was carried unanimously without any discussion.