MILITARY SERVICE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17837, 9 October 1929, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE.

PRESBYTERIAN ATTITUDE. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. SESSION AND PRESBYTERY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) STRATFORD, Wednesday. Some time ago, when Presbyterians throughout New Zealand were passing resolutions regarding the cases of Richards and Miller, students for the Presbyterian ministry, who took a very definite stand as regards the military training demanded of them, the session of St. Andrew’s Church, Stratford, passed a resolution taking a view opposed to the Presbytery resolutions, and the same was telegraphed throughout New Zealand. The matter was refered to at the August meeting of the Taranaki Prcsbjtei), and it was decided to inform the session that the publication of the I’esolution constituted a grave breach ol Church law.

At yesterday's meeting of the Presbytery a letter was received from the session stating that Mr Percy Thomson a member ol’ the Presbytery, held himself responsible for the publication, which had been made deliberately as a protest against the action of the various Presbyteries in passing motions regarding the Richards-Miller case, as representing the opinion of the Presbyterians of New Zealand, without first submitting the matter to the laymen of the Church. In view of the decisions of several magistrates it was considered that the resolutions of the Presbyterians encouraged Uic youths of Now Zealand In limit- (ho law, and brought the magistracy into contempt. The session desired Lo be informed of the authority for the claim thal the publication of the session's resolution was a breach of Church law. Tim clerk of ilic Presbylcry was instructed to quote its authority-to U'o session.