PACIFISTS ATTACKED

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

PACIFISTS ATTACKED

WAR CHAPLAIN'S ADDRESS “PREPARE, OR BE CRUCIFIED.” MESSAGE TO RETURNED MEN. “Tire American military leader, General Sherman, said, ‘War is hell.’ If it canre about that N<_w Zealand was invaded I would take my chance and go to hell with my fighting countrymen rather than go to Heaven via Mount Crawford or any other prison with the man who would see his land and people violated without making a move to repel the invader. It is preparation for war or crucifixion.” The foregoing sentences are from an address entitled “Christ or Thor,” given by the Rev. W. Bramwell Scott at an Anzac parade of members of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association in Trinity Methodist Church, Newtown, on Sunday. The address discussed the relationship of Christianity to militarism and pacifism, and the attitude a Christian ought to adopt in event of his country becoming menaced by war. “I think I Can speak for the majority of returned soldiers,” said Mr. Scott. “They know more about the horror, tragedy, and uselessness of war than the most idealistic pacifist ever dreamed. With the enemy at the gate, although their fighting years were long past, they would still defend hearth and home even if they had nothing but a pair of crutches to fight with . . . Personally, I can find no justification in refusing to defend my native land. To do that there must be, iii the present state of the world, adequate preparation.” NO MANDATE FROM CHRIST. Modern conditions were such, continued the speaker, that the declared believer m Jesus Christ must face up to the question as to how he should speak or act on the question of war. General Sherman said, “War is hell.” There could be no alliance between hell and the Christian Church; therefore, the church must declare against war. But did that mean that no Christian should be identified in any way with military matters and methods whether for offence or defence? The pacifist made much use of certain sayings . of Jesus, but on examination most of these sayings dealt with Christ’s attitude of non-resistance in an attack upon Himself. Reasonably explained they did not give a mandate to refuse to fight under any circumstances. “For the benefit of the whole citizenship of New Zealand a margin of safety must be provided against a possible raiding enemy,” said Mr. Scott. “Years ago, with an undeveloped Far East and Britain mistress of the sea, there was little need to worry, but with a Westernised East, and with other nation’s navies comparable with those of Britain, we must be prepared. To the pacifist that is heresy. . To me it seems to be sound common sense. The pacifist says, ‘Throw down your arms, pull down your defences, throw open your gates.’ What will happen? ‘Nothing,’ says the pacifist. ‘lf you believe in God you must trust the stranger who comes within your gate.’ How does such idealism work out in practice?” THE ALTERNATIVES. “It is preparation or crucifixion. It must be one or the other, and I sometimes believe that no real peace will come till one nation is so crucified that the rest of the world will revolt from war,” Mr. Scott said. “What nation is it to be? It looks as if it must be Britain. Having adopted a policy of nonresistance we shall be obliterated. And because Britain dies the world shall be free. Well! If you are prepared to go all the way to bring about such a glorious result, then I have enough of the blood of the Crusader in me to say, ‘I am with you.’ But can I trust even my qwn familar friend that he will walk with me the sorrowful way of national crucifixion? I am inclined to doubt it. There is necessity for propaganda along the line of a peacemakers’ programme, but how can that happen when the Christian community itself is split by the action of the nO-more-war enthusiasts?” Concluding, Mr Scott continued that neither militarism nor extreme paci-. fism was Christ’s way to ensure world peace; yet a sound policy of preparation did not conflict with Christianity.