POSITION OF BAPTISTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 7

POSITION OF BAPTISTS

DISCUSSION OF WORLD PROBLEMS AGAINST CONSCRIPTION Important public questions were attacked at the Baptist Conference yesterday, and resolutions passed defining the position of the Church. Appreciation of the great world movements in favour of the reduction of armaments and gratification at the friendly discussion by the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the United States of peace problems, was expressed by several speakers. The assembly reaffirmed its conviction that war is an unworthy means of settling international disputes and that all Baptist Churches should pray for its outlawry. Reference was also made to the League of Nations and its successes in the past. The conference urged that the law relating to conscientious objectors should be amended to exempt objectors certified as bona fide by their ministers, without regard to creed. A motion advocating that the compulsory clauses of the Military Service Act should be repealed -was also passed unanimously without discussion. The following resolution in relation to the proposed Gaming Amendment Act was passed:—“The union affirms ; its hostility to any extension of gambling facilities and to the granting of licences for lotteries. The Bill is considered to be a grave peril to the public, as it would increase the number of bookmakers and constitute a serious temptation to members of the Post and Telegraph Department.” Receipts estimated, at £2,142 are shown on the budget, which was discussed yesterday afternoon. The estimated expenditure includes grants of £1,348 to churches, of which £585 will be distributed in the Auckland district.

Messrs. T. R. Page, J. K. Reid and F. L. Smart were accepted as students.