THE CHURCHES AND WAR

Southland Times, Issue 23651, 28 October 1938, Page 4

THE CHURCHES AND WAR

To The Editor

Sir—One might suppose that in the year of Our Lord, 1914, the Christian Churches had made up their minds, once for all, as to the justifiability of war. After more than a thousand years of crusades and religious wars, there was nothing surprising in the fact that priests and ministers of all denominations, throughout the world, encouraged the young to fight in the Great War. How is it that during the last 20 years the Anglicans and Presbyterians and other sects have utterly changed their views and now declare even a defensive war to be contrary to the will of God? Were Christians misled by the devil when they launched their crusades? What reliance can be placed on men who for hundreds of years preach one thing and then begin to preach the opposite. In the Eastern Church the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father, in the Western Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, He proceeds from both the Father and the Son. From the point of view of the practical man, such hairsplitting is mere trifling. But it is a matter of life and death to a community, whether the men are permitted or forbidden to defend themselves. Those same Anglican and Presbyterian Churches are now appealing for financial support, but fail to mention that they are no longer the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches which are pioneers endowed so lavishly.—Yours, etc., J. P. DAKIN. October 27, 1938.