The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIIDAY, MAY 11, 1928. PACIFISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIIDAY, MAY 11, 1928. PACIFISM.

It seems rather remarkable that it should become necessary for an eminent divine of the Presbyterian faith to have to lecture and explain to his brethren in conference the error of their ways and the pitfalls ahead of them if they persisted in the Peace Manifesto which had received a measure of endorsement from the General Assembly. The Ilevd. Dr Erwin who felt impelled to take up the cudgels in opposition to the movement, handled the subject with a splendid clearness and to such effect that before moving further in the matter, the Christchurch Presbytery at least will mole fully weigh the Manifesto before giving it official endorsement. What Dr Erwin had to say covered the ground admirably and -must have brought home to liis hearers an illuminating view of where the movement was taking them as a responsible body of the Dominion. The subject is essentially a national one, for it carries with it the defence of the Empire. Far more than our own country is concerned. The integrity and standing of the British Empire is hound up in the question of the effective maintenance of the national security. What happened during ,the period of the-Great War could not do otherwise than convince all sensible folk that war should be

no more. But there aro folk who are not sensible in this world, and Britain in the first instance has to seo that her lands and her people are not left undefended to be preyed upon by those who are anxious to displace law and order with a constitution of their own making. There are of course degrees of war, and it is helpful to think that some of the leading nations are moving towards the elimination of warfare where reasonably possible. Further, by a process of sensible disarmament, they are making the world safer and more secure to a large section of the habitable globe. But outside that sensible section, there is still a large area, of territory and some millions of people who cannot be controlled or directed by anything the Great Powers of Europe and America may agree to. Tnerc is an active element at work in' the world whose object is the subjugation of what may he described as the leading Christian nations. These facts are fairly palpable, and it is surprising that a great organisation such as’ that represented by the Presbyterian General Assembly, should he blind to the obvious, and seek to impress on the public mind a state of thought and action which would undermine the degree of security enjoyed from the defence preparations of the nation. It is not so long ago that’ certain so-called conscientious objectors were encouraged in their views liy some of the prominent churchmen in the north. A conscientious objector such as appeared in court recently, unprepared to do anything for the good of his country in the dire emergency of war, would be well out of the country. He is a weakness to any community, and Ins conduct reflects on those who support him. Perhaps it is not without purpose that this subject is brought to the surface from time to time. Tt certainly stimulates public thought and interest, and in this instance now we have a clear cut expression of opinion which reduces the test to a basis that the defence of one’s country is the first obligation touching the individual conscience. As Dr Erwin tersely said: “You may form your societies and deck your members with olive leaves hut let anything touch the liberty of a Britisher and in a moment your peace uniform will lie changed to kliaki.” That is the position in a nutshell. Patriotism prevails. The eminent divine whom we have just quoted, no doubt spoke from his own experience of the Great War. Great Britain and her far-flung Empire never went through a more severe test. But from the moment of peril there was the response. And what would have been the result had it lieon otherwise? There would have been no need for any Peace Manifesto to-dnv. The Presbytery would have had more directly personal troubles to cmihidcr—perhaps there would have been not any Presbytery to assemble. Our freedom depends on our ablitity to defend, ourselves, and till the world alters greatly that condition will remain. Therefore we must needs have a people who will not shirk their responsibilities hut will conform to national conditions and keep their country in the forefront as a united people solid and unafraid.