THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 44, 16 November 1926, Page 10

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sir,—Many of us who are members of the Presbyterian Church have, been deeply interested in the. paper reports of the assembly in Wellington. As day has succeeded aay we have had increased cause for uneasiness in the resolutions carried by the gathering of our ministers. To put it mildly, many, of u S have been annoyed with the notonetv gained by the name Presbyterian, feeltog as we do that many of the speakers gave utterance to opinions that nave_ not the support of the majority o: their people, and we feel that the name ot our church has been dragged down. Presbyterians as a whole have been noted as good citizens, upholding the laws, and possessed of fairly high common sense. Do the reverend gentlemen who would abolish compulsory military training consider themselves better followers of Christ than those, who voted’against them?—the ever meek Christ who used a scourge in the temple, and called down curses on towns, communities, ano. xarious sects! Why, Presbyterianism was born in blood, and bred on blood in its fights for freedom from oppression and unjust rulers. Are we now to stand with useless, untrained arms if China s many millions, united by an Alexander or a Napoleon, sweep down on our choice little country ? What is the particular objection to compulsion: don t the same gentlemen wax enthusiastic about compulsion in prohibition by a majority ot one, or 50 to 49 to every 99. voters? Do they expect support by their members in their threats in regard to political action in the matter of Bible m schools? If so they will get a rude awakening. When the churches enter the political arena they will deserve the ignominious end that will await them. Surely, Sir, the assembly got a little out of its depth here and there, and the sooner some of its units get back in shallow and safer waters the better.—l am, etc., _ GEORGE H. THOMSON. November 13.