Christians and War

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 494, 25 October 1928, Page 13

Christians and War

CANDIDATE REPENTS THAT HE FOUGHT FOR NEW ZEALAND WOULD NOT RESIST ATTACK “Can a Christian be a good soldier?” was a question put-to Mr. O. E. Burton, Christian Socialist candidate for Eden, at his meeting last evening. “It is possible that the Christian man may mistakenly fight, but he commits a bieacli of Christian principles” said Mr. Burton. ■ Once upon a time it seemed the right thing for me to do. i believe I was wrong in going and fighting and that I made a serious breach of Christian principles. I express sincere repentance for an ill-advised and as tong action. I am trying to remove the results Ot: that action though. I was responsible for more bloodshed than I care to remember.” AUTHOR OF MILITARY HISTORY A Questioner; Are not you the author of the “History of the Auckland Regiment?” , _ Mr. Burton: That is quite true. In a preface a year or so afterwards I said that war was wrong. Another Voice: If you really scrap all defences do you really think the foreigner will keep his hrinds off? “The mere possession of armies does not make a country safe. We would bo far safer without arms than with them. To scrap defences would be an act of courage; there would be no guarantee but a high hope. Pacifist countries came best out of the Great War.” • A Voice: Where would the bees be without stings. Mr. Burton; That is not a fair analogy. We, are on a higher plane than the animals. The speaker said he would not resist if lie were attacked by another mam Suppose he were a maniac? Mr. Burton: It is essential to keep quiet with a maniac. A clergyman asked the candidate what he' would' do if violence was offered to his wife. Mr. Burton said he would endeavour to stand in between his wife and the violence offered her. However, there was no greater violence than the taking of life. Two wrongs did not make-a right.