“ACCURSED MILITARISM”

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 8

“ACCURSED MILITARISM”

PRESBYTERIANS’ ATTITUDE

DEBATE BY HAWERA MEETING.

STRONG PROTEST BY A NUMBER.

The tranquility of the annual meeting of the Hawera Presbyterian Church was disturbed last night when strong exception was taken by Air. W. G. Simpson to a sessional resolution which protested against the admission to th© church as ministers of candidates hold' ing pacifist views. Surprise was expressed by Mr. Simpson that there was no reference to the resolution in the session report. “Will you read that resolution?” he asked. This having been done he requested particulars of°tlie voting, which were given as 6 for and 5 against. “That means the meeting was not a representative one, as the .session consists of 10 elders,” Mr., Simpson added. “I wish 'emphatically to protest against such a contentious and important matter as this being made the sub-, ject of a resolution without the opinion of the congregation being first obtained.” It seemed to him an unwarranted interference with the rights of an individual to express his own opinions. He was strongly opposed to what he termed “this cursed militarism.” . Mr. A. Coleman said the session had proposed the motion honestly believing it represented the opinion of Presbyterian church people. It had gone to the Presbytery and through that body to the General Assembly. It had not been directed against the Auckland de* faulters, though it was their action© that had prompted its passage. . Church doctrine did not condemn a righteous war for which it was neither wrong, un-Christian nor unreasonable to prepare. Referring to the state of affairs in Russia Mr. Coleman said: “I have no doubt Mr. Simpson is better acquainted with Russia than I am.” At this stage Mr. Simpson rose to a point of order, alleging that Mr, Coleman’s remarks were developing into a militaristic debate. Mr. Coleman did not .further pursue the matter and Mr. D. S. Richardson moved that the next business be pro-, ceeded with. The Rev. R. E. Evans explained the procedure whereby the motion was sent to the General Assembly and would ho referred back, if deemed necessary, to all the sessions in the Dominion, when an opportunity would be given to congregations to discuss the question. . Air. Simpson’s attempt to obtain a seconder having failed the next business of the meeting proceeded.