A BISHOP'S APPEAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 963, 13 March 1917, Page 10

A BISHOP'S APPEAL.

ADJOURNED SINE DIE. BISHOP BRODIE BEFORE THE BOARD POSITION OF MARIST BROTHERS. For the first time in New Zealand, a bishop appeared before a Military Service Board, this morning, to appeal for the exemption of himself from military service. The appellant was the Right Rev. Matthew Jaines Brodie, Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, whose name was drawn in tiie fourth ballot, and the presiding board was the Second Canterbury Military Service Board, of which Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M., is chairman. Bishop Brodie appealed because , of the serious disorganisation that his calling-up would mean to the administration of his diocese. He also appealed, on the ground of the public interest, against the callingup of two priests, Father James C. Murphy, of Christchurch, and Father Albert T. Herring, Tenuika. A letter from the Minister of Defence was produced, showing that certificates as to the calling-up of the appellants ' being contrary to the public interest had been issued under clause 9 of the regulations. It was also slated, by Bishop Brodie, that Father Murphy was going into camp as a chaplain. The three appeals were adjourned sine die, provided that the priests remain in their present occupation. Bishop Brodie also appealed against the calling-up of the Rev. Jeremiah Curtain, a religious teacher in the Marist Brothers' School, Christchurch. The appeal, said the Bishop, was on the ground that the calling-up' was contrary to the public interest, because the work for education must go on. The staff was at an absolute minimum, and further reduction would make it unworkable.; It was found impossible to get more! male teachers. A Marist Brother; gave his life to teaching. Further, U was contrary to their vows and calling to bear arms. . - In reply to the chairman, the Bishop said that the Marist Brothers took the vows of obedience, poverty and chastity. They were paid no salary, but were offered only just sufficient for their support. The chairman: Are these life-long vows ? Bishop Brodie: Yes; perpetual vows. In reply to another question, the Bishop said that the Rev. Curtain had been in religion for 20 years, and was now 37 years old. : Captain Spratt: Have there been any other cases of Marist Brothers "" being before a Military Service Board? Bishop Brodie replied that there had been a case in Wellington, in which the board adjourned sine die, provided he remained in his present occupation, an appeal on behalf of a Marist Brother. 'He produced a newspaper report of the ease. - ' .

The chairman said that the difference he saw between a religious teacher in the Roman Catholic Chinch and an ordinary teacher was that one was bound by vows. That seemed to him to make all the difference in the world. Of course, it was necessary for the military service boards to aej in conformity with one another, and even if it were against his own opinion he would get into line with the other boards. In reply to the chairman, Bishop Brodie said that there were 31 Marist Brothers in New Zealand who might be called up for service. The appeal was adjourned sine die, on lite same condition as in the other cases.-