CRIME OF AGGRESSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 9

CRIME OF AGGRESSION

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND WAR EXHORTATION TO PRAYER Press Assoc-iatiom NAPIER. Wednesday. At ihe assembly this afternoon of the Congregational Union the Rev. Gardner Miller roused the delegates by proposing the following motion: That this assembly records its oonvi. cion that war is a crime afrahnst humanity, and therefore contrary to th<mind of Christ. While rejoicing in all the present movements toward the outlawry and abolition of war. it believes lhat the Church of Jesus Chri>t, as a redemptive community in the world, should not temporise in the matter of war, but should with bold meekness declare its determination to take the high stand that all wars *r»-un-Christian, and therefore it dare not support war in any way. The mover said that if any man could find any justification of war in the teaching of Christ he was unfamiliar with the New Testament. The League of Nations was not enough, nor even the Locarno Treaty and the Kellogg Peace Pact. Mr. A. M. Lewis, in opposing the motion, asked whether, in the face of unjustified aggression, a Christian was to be denied the right of selfdefence. Air. R. Stewart deprecated the bringing of this motion before the assembly. on the ground that it laid them open to misunderstanding and ridicule. "Revolutionary instead of evolutionary,” was the Rev. O. Heather's description of the motion. The Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher challenged the remarks of Mr. Stewart. He was not afraid of ridicule. He hated war with all his soul, but there were certain circumstances under which he would be compelled to defend his loved ones, and if he was told that if he did that he was no Christian, he would not believe it. If it was true, he had not reached that stage o£ spiritual development. The Rev. A. W. MacMillan said hrt wanted to see some modification of th© military training system of New Zealand. for, in spite of the "piffle" talked, it was clear to any sane observer that the system tended to make militarists. The Rev. Harry Johnson moved ad an amendment: "That this assemTity records its conviction that aggressive war is a crime against humanity, and therefore contrary to the mind of Christ. While rejoicing in all the present movements toward the outlawry and abolition of war. it urges the Congrep.i 1 iona I Churches of New Zealand to call their own people to unremitting prayer and effort to secure the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy for the settlement of international differences, and the changing of those practices that constitute the roots of war.’* The amendment was carried by an overwhelming majority. Another motion, moved by Mr. MacMillan, recommending churches to combine in supporting local branches of the League of Nations Union, was passed unanimously.