OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160737, 25 August 1920, Page 11

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

PROTEST BY SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. Following is the copy of a letter addressed to members of Parliament by Auckland representatives of the Society of Friends:— Sirs, —The Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill introduced recently into the House of Representatives, includes provisions which, by reason of the indefinite nature of the “Oath of Allegiance” and the consequent and implied promise of obedience to all future legislation of whatever character, may have the effect of placing not only members of our Society but many other upright and conscientious British subjects in a position of the greatest moral difficulty. For this reason, the members of the Standing Committee of the Society of Friends in Auckland desire to place before yon the following quotation from the official Book of Doctrine, Practice and Discipline of the Society, written as far back as the year 1843; “We bare ever maintained that it is our duty to obey all the enactments of civil government, except those by which our allegiance to God is interfered with. We owe much to its blessings; through it we enjoy liberty and protection in connection with law and order; and, whilst bound by our sense of religious conviction not to comply with those requisitions which violate our Christian principles, we desire ever to be found amongst those who are “quiet in the land”; a condition favourable to true Christian patriotism, and in which services highly valuable and useful may he rendered to the community. 1843 P.E.” In the earlier history of our Society the Oath of Allegiance was repeatedly tendered to our members simply as an excuse for continued persecution, resulting in large numbers being imprisoned for no other reason than its non-acceptance. If this Bill is passed it will be a retrograde step; it will be a step leading the people not to a greater freedom, but backward towards the bondage of past centuries. It will tend to foster rather than to dispel a spirit of rebellion within the country, and its purpose will be largely rendered futile by the fact that its unscrupulous opponents will not hesitate to give lip consent to the promises contained and without further consideration proceed to work against them. ' We therefore earnestly urge your reconsideration of the Bill and would like your assurance that the points set forth will receive your careful attention.— Yours faithfully, Egerton Gill, Clerk to the Standing Committee.