CLAIMS OF NEW SECT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1921, Page 1

CLAIMS OF NEW SECT.

AUCKLAND DISCIPLE AND MILITARY TRAINING. AUCKLAND, Aug. 20. A rather peculiar ease, which has caused considerable public comment here, has been before the Magistrate’s Court. Before Afr Bundle, S.AL. a de-licate-looking youth, named K. Balfour AT. Wilson, aged 18 years, who described himself as a cabinet maker’s apprentice, asked tor exemption ftom military training under Section 1)5 of the Act of 1012, which refers to exemption on the ground of religious belief. Afr Norman Hanna, who appeared for the lad,, said his client belonged to the sect known under the name of ‘ln the Testimony of Jesus.” of whom there wore about 1200 or 1300 in the Dominion and about 150 in A non land suburbs. They met in each other’s homes and had no churches in the ordinary aeeontaneo of the word. The lad was quite sincere in his belief, and when lie reached the age of 21 intended to dispossess himself of all his worldly goods and become a preacher.. “SHALL PERISH BY THE SWORD.” The first witness was Edwin John Afadden, described as an older of the sect. Ho said they called themselves Christians among themselves, huh were known outside under the name mentioned by counsel. They believed that tliev should try and live as Christ lived while on earth. The believed that the Scriptures throughout were against military training. He quoted St Paul’s well-known remarks as to whom people should wrestle with in his Epistle to the Ephesians, and also the saying of Christ about “those who take the sword, shall perish b,v the sword.” “LEAVE IT IN THE HANDS OF GOD.” Captain Redmond pointed out that Wilson was not a Territorial, but a cadet. and had already attended over thirteen drills. He asked witness if he were aware that the cadet's training aimed at fitting a. lad to he a good citizen and making him upright, and whether he know that when the lime came that ho might he caller] on To light Inr his country he still had power under the Act to apply for exemption ? Witness contended the training was all military in effect. Captain Redmond: If the country wore invaded to-morrow and the enetnv starred to carry nfT your wnmcn-kind, would you stand by and let them do it Witness; We might to obey God rather than man. We might to he pi®nared to leave all in the hands of God. Captain Redmond: Do you think it. is rigid that this young man should enjoy the privlcgcs of this country ami the sacrifices of other people, and then not light, for the country if it were invaded by an enemy ? Witness; AVc believe he should billow the teachings of his .Master. To Mr Hanna: During the war the members of the sect were conscripted, and about sixty of them went to prison rather than serve. AGAINST ALL FIGHTING. Wilson, the applicant, went into the box in support of his application, and 1 contended that the whole life and teachings of Christ, were against all kinds of lighting. Wilson went on to explain that when lie was 21 he intended to take up preaching. He intended to dispossess himself of all he had. I here was about £201) w hich would come to him when he became of age. It was his intention to give everything away when ho came of n cyo. Air Hanna: To whom? AYilson: Anyone that is in more need of it than T am. If a saw a stranger in need I would give him something. In answer to Captain Redmond. A\ ilson said that if it were the will of Hod that an enemy—a Chinaman or a Japanese should invade the country and carry off his sister, for instance, he would not presume to interfere. He would not limit the will of God. Captain Redmond: I think the Territorials would he better without you, if that is the way you think. The magistrate, looking at the applicant : it seems a pity that -a youth of 1 1 is appearance should not take some form of exercise, or .have the opportunity of doing so. Wilson protested that lie did take exercise, and among other games played football. The magistrate; A oil don’t look like it. MAGISTRATE’S COMA! ENTS. Mr Bundle took a day to consider the matier. In giving his judgment, he said it was not a matter in which lie iouhl allow his personal feelings as to tlieodesirahility or otherwise of granting tin 1 application to jnlliiencc him. In such an application he had to he satisfied that, the applicant objected to undergo training in good faith on the ground that sindf training was contrary to his religions belief. The np plieant in th(> present ease had so satisfied the court. and exemption would he granted for twelve months. 11 is Worship suggested that, as the Court, ai.d possibly the Defence representatives, experienced a difficulty in cross-examining such an applicant on his religious beliefs, any similar eases should in future he referred to the Army chaplain for the purpose of getting that officer’s advice. !n answer to Mr Hanna, tlie magistrate said the exemption would operate until the end of the military year. At the end of that time the applicant 4-ould make a further application. He nuis still only a hoy, find possibly ho was passing through a phase, and his opinions might not hi' permanent. Ihe applicant was not.entitled to exemption for all time.