MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1916, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

I ' THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR. CANTERBURY APPEAL. Christchuivh, Xov. 2S. For some time ta-dav the Military Service Board for the Canterbury Military District was occupied listening to numerous quotations from the Scriptures. The Beard was hearing the first appeal in the district from a conscientious objector, called up under section 35 of the Military Service Act, and the matter had resolved itself into a test match with respect to thU position as regards military service of the sect known a« the 'Brethren. The appellant was William Ernest Frizzell, an electrician, '23 years of age,' living at Fendalton. He had appealed on two grounds: firstly, that his calling up would 'Cause undue hardship; and, secondly, that he had conscientious and religion's objections. The appellant said his sect had no formal artielos, but he wished to call evidence upon the beliefs of the seel. Henry U Dartnell, an elderly man, a general storekeeper, deposed lie was a member of the sect called the Brethren. The sect had no such articles as, for instance, the Church of England had, but it had the teaching of the Old Testament and the Sew Testament, and the example of Christ. The Chairman (J. S. Evans, S.M.): 'Well, what -Is it you rely on';

Witness: Well, \vc regard the teaclihigs of Christ as supplied to us aa covering all the world. itness here quoted from the Sermon on the Mount. The Chairman: Weil, how would you propose to win this war if you rely on that?

Witness: We are confident that in God and faith in Him we have a very powerful weapon that overrules everything else. The Chairman: You don't seriously suggest that the Genua,n menace can be met in that wa,v?i

Witness: We feel pretty sure that it is one of the most powerful weapons. The Chairman remarked that the war had been going on for some time, and women and children had been butchered in a most diabolical manner, and he did not see how that fitted in. Witness: The world to-day has left out God pretty much, we feel, and it may be that 'certain things happen to teacli us.

In reply to a question from the Chairman, who pointed out it was a matter affecting all parts of the Dominion, and the Board wished to make a thorough investigation before making any order, the witness undertook to communicate with the Brethren of other parts of New Zealand, and endeavor to ascertain the number of members of them who were liable for military duty, so that the Board could ascertain the possible number of exemptions.

Evidence was also given by Charles Herd, assistant storenian, who said he had hcou a member of the Brethren since 1900. 'Before that lie was a Presbyterian, but he was not converted then. Witness said he thought that the war must have been sent- to chasten the Christians.

The Chairman: Unfortunately, we are not the Christians who .are suffering. He drew witness' attention to wlrnt had happened in. Belgium, Serbia, I'ranse, &c. Witness replied that he was speaking generally. They were only one body, and were interested in all that concerned the saints everywhere. The Chairman: But yon are not prepared to go and protect them? Witness:' Exactly, because they have a greater protector, Christ. lie will come forth on the white 'horse and do that.

The Chairman: I don't think we can get any further ahead just now. What v,x> want is something that will show definitely that the teachings included opposition to bearing arms. The chairmen of the various Beards had held a conference in Wellington, and generally agreed that, as far as possible, thev would adopt uniform decision-, especially in matters of this kind, so that if the majority decide that a body such as this should be exempted, that will be done, even if ' some of us don't agree individually. The Board Adjourned tli© ea.se for a month, in which time Dartnell is to obtain information about the number of Brethren in New Zealand who arc eligible for service, and is to procure definite evidence of tlie sect's doctrines.