“Unchristian!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 7

“Unchristian!”

A STUDENT ON WAR MAGISTRATE’S COUNSEL "T BELIEVE that preparations for war are unchristian, because war is wholesale murder at the bidding of politicians too inept to settle international disputes, and of armament manufacturers, financiers, etc., bent on gain, and that therefore it is my Christian duty to take no part in them.” Alan Morgan Richards, a divinity student at the Auckland University, has the courage of his convictions. Though only 20 he delivered his opinions of military training and war in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon—when he was charged with failing to attend drill, and applied for exemption—in terms that indicated a fighting spirit in spite of his pacifist opinions. “As a Presbyterian, I stand upon a resolution of the General Assembly of my church, passed last November, which declared that military training ip wrong in principle,” die continued. “If military training is wrong in principle, it is obviously wrong to take part in it. “I further believe that it is my Christian duty to do all I can to make war impossible. I conceive that my refusal to take part in preparations for slaughter will help toward doing so, by giving rise to discussion, by calling attention to a possible way of abolishing this curse, and by encouraging others to likewise refuse to fight or help in the preparations for fighting. “Therefore I neither have taken, nor shall take part in military preparations for the above religious reasons.” “Yes, it sounds very nice,” said Mr. McKean. “It is news to me to hear that the Presbyterian Church takes that view of military training. I’m afraid you haven’t put forward sufficient grounds for the granting of an exemption.” The magistrate questioned Richards further regarding the difference between his opinion and that of the Presbytery, as reported in THE SUN yesterday. “I see, you think you are much wiser than they are,” he said. “In this matter, I think so,” Richards replied. “It is a matter for my conscience.” “Well,” said Mr. McKean’ “I hope that your conscience will point out to you that you have a duty to the State. You’re very young yet. I’ll inflict a small penalty. You’d better go home and think about it a little more. You'll be fined £l, and the application will be dismissed.” Richards asked for two months to pay. “I’m right on the rocks at present, and likely to be,” he said. He was allowed 14 days to find the money.