DEFENCE ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1929, Page 6

DEFENCE ACT

ATTITUDE OF DIVINITY ST ODEN 4 ft. LION. DIR. THOMPSON’S VIEWS. DUNEDIN, July 18. 111 a letter to the Tress, the Hon. Dir Thomson, Di.L.c.., criticises the attitude of certain wieoiogioal students 111 Auckland towards military training, a*.a raises tlie question 01 ‘tiioir liuivss to underake the work of Clin roll in years to come. The letter reads as follows: “There are a few young men in Auelvianu who hope to qualify as clergymen of the Presbyterian Church but who bold very foolish views 011 tlie question of obeying the laws of the land. These young men are posing as martyrs possessed ol such tender consciences that they will not perform the service which tney are called on to render the eonnui.iuty, even when it has no semblance 01 military duty. The civil Dlagistrate can be left to deal with these ignorant people on the legal question, but the question 1 wish to raise before the hignest Court of our Church is this:— Are incse men with such a perverted sense of duly fit to |bo clergymen and instructors of other men? In the opinion of a i..*go section of Presbyterians they most I*.cidely are not. “if. the Church gives its endorsement to such views by licensing them to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who taught obedience to the civil laws of His country, it would be doing harm to the common sense of the Church and ail injustice to the young men themselves. In their own interests they should' withdraw from tlie ranks of those who seek to enter the Presbyterian Church as pasters. We want all tlie sanity we can get among our clergy, whose task is increasingly difficult in these days of lax living, but we do not want cranks, who do more harm than good by driving people from the Church. I ask the Church to consider this question and to give a pronouncement upon it. Conscientious objection is a thing to be dealt with tenderly and wisely, hut the action of these young men savours largely of vanity and obduracy, and, the question arises: — Are they the, right sort of persons to be the instructors of youth and spiritual leaders of their fellow men?” The Rev. Dr. Herrington, convener of the Public Questions Committee stated this morning, in answer to anenquiry, that no action has as yet been taken in the matter.