THE CONSCRIPTION BILL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 June 1916, Page 3

THE CONSCRIPTION BILL.

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,—J a.lll almosit aishamsdi to again faop; space in your columns to reply to another of my critics, "Puzzled." My answor to his first question is I am not aware of any Scripture that jusitifiea a certain deed which he presumes to "have taken place. Anyway wo are hot iiVing antler the severities of the Moeiao dispensation, hut in the Christian dispensation. Audi I simply maintain that the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and militarism are directly and utterly opposedl to each other, irreconcilably, and for over. 1 pity the man who would search the New Testament with a ; view to justifying himself in shedding j blood even ae a Boldier of the King. ', Ho would find no support from that ] ■source, ami every student of the New Testament knows it although not every- < oiio is honest enough to own it. Yet ninny in obedience to the dictates of their consciences,—or what is vastly more important—in allegiance to their Lord and Master cannot and will not to the war. Bpt this tyrannical oou- ' fieri,ption bill--<tyrannical in the worst f sense of the world— ill-conceived and 1 ■ill-applied tramples upon our couvb- I tions and would force us to do thie .liked tiling and thus violate the sane- e tity of our souls. But did not 'the c great teacher" »ay "I came not to send peace but a sword?" i'es these are s His words, but what is their meaning ? Are we to understand that the design and purpose of Hie coming wan ito send 11 • a BWord ? Nay, verily—perish iho *' ! thought—but rather the swordl was in a consequence of Hit* coming, yet withal not the sword of war but of persecution, by men who thought they Were thereby c ' J 'doing God service." And "these 1 things, will they do," saith the Lord, "'beoauso they have not known the Father nor jMe.''" (John 16.3). Your corerepondent hae over-stated his tvso in trying to prove too mucdi. The r.ttempt to fasten the oharges of or jelb.v and bloodshed andi crime associated wit'i (Rome, the Crusades and St. Bartholomew—the attempt to fasten them to the ° naimp and person of Christ is preposterous and is refuted by its own os- \ travagance and needs no reply. As to the last question I should say the U German officer referred! to was certaiuly a fiend or a madmain or both, and an V asylum for such is a wise and humaia j U provision —I am, etc., WILLIAM '.READ. ™ Fairfield, Levin, June 29th, 101 C.