MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16824, 29 November 1916, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

CANTERBURY APPEAL

THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

Pei* Press Association. CHRISTCHUROII, November 28. For some time to-day the Military Service Board for the Canterbury Military District, was occupied listening to numerous quotations from the Scriptures. The Board was hearing the first app.al in "the. district from a contentious objector, called up unctcr Section So of the Military Service Act, and the matter had rcsoiVed itself into a test match with respect to the position as regards military service of the sect known as the Brethren. The appellant was William Ernest Frizzeil, an electrician, 23 years' of age living at Fendatton. He had appealed on two grounds; firstly, that his calling up would cause undue hardship; r.nd, secondly, that he had conscientious and religious objections. The appellant said his sect had no formal articles, but he wished to call evidence upon the beliefs of the sect.

Henry L. Dartnell, an elderly man. ti general storekeeper, deposed he was a member of the sect called the Brethren. The sect had no such articles as, for instance, the Church of England had; but it had the- teaching of the Old Testament and the New Testament, and the example of Christ. The chairman—(J. S. Evans, S.M ) —Well, what is it you rely on? Witness—Well, we regard the teachings, .of. Christ, as supplied to us rt s covering all the world. -Witness here quoted from the Sermon on the Mount The chairman—Well, how would yoii propose to.win this war if you rely on that?

Witness—We aa-e confident that in God and faith in Him we have a very powerful weapon that overrules everything else-

The chairman—You don\t.seriously suggest that the German menace can be met in that way ? .

AVitness—We feel pretty sure that ; t is one of the most powerful weapons. The chairman remarked that the war had been going on for some time and women and children had been butchered in a most diabolical manner, and 'ie did not see hoy/ that fitted in.

Witness—The World to-day'has left out God pretty much, we feel, and itmay be that certain things happen to teach us.

In reply to a question from the chairman, who pointed out 'it was a matter affecting, all parts of the Dominion, and the Board wishes, to make a thorough investigation before making any order, the witness undertook to communicate' with the Brethren of other parts of New Zealand and endeavour to ascertain the number of members of them who were liable for military duty, so that .theßoard could ascertain the possible number of exemptions. • Evidence was also given by Chas. Herd,- aesistaniy storeman, who said he had been amemfe of the Brethren since ■ 1900;. Before that he was 'a Presbyterian, buVihe was not converted then. Witness said he thought that the war hnist have been sent to chastise the Christians.

The chairman —-Unfortunately'we are not the Christians who are suffering. He drew witness's' attention to what what hadiiappened in Belgium, France, Serbia, etc.

Witness replied that he was speaking generally.' They were one body, and were interested in all that cone-erne,d the saints everywhere.

The chairman—But you a.re not prepared to go and protect them ? Witness—Exactly, because they have a greater protector, Christ. He will come forth on the white horse and do that.

The chairman—l don't think we can get any farther ahead just now. What we want is something that will show definitely that the teachings included opposition to bearing arms. The chairmen of the various Boards had held a conference in Wellington and generally agreed that as far as possible they would adopt uniform decisions, especially in matters of this kind, so that if the majority decide that a body such as this should be exempted that will be done, even if some of us don't agree individually. The Board adjourned the case for a month, in which time Dartnell is to obtain information about het number of Brethren in New Zealand who are eligible for service, and is to procure definite evidence of the sect's doctrines.