CHURCH AND WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1939, Page 2

CHURCH AND WAR

BISHOP’S ATTITUDE.

PROTECTION OF THE WEAK

(By Telegraph—Press Association )

DUNEDIN, March 26.

Commenting on the attitude to war of the Rev C. W. Chandler, vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Cambridge, the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, Dr W. A. R. Fitchett, said that such statements could be made in the Empire without any fear of facing a firing From a Christian standpoint, said Bishop Fitchett, to engage in a war of aggression for material gain was undoubtedly sinful, but to protect the weak against the aggression of the strong was surely in accord with the mind of Christ.

“Therefore, so far from being wrong, it is a Christian duty both for the individual and for the nation to make every offort to be sufficiently strong to contend with an aggressor,” he said. “It follows that as stated in the Thirtyseventh Article of Religion ‘it is lawful for Christian men, at the command of the magistrate, to bear arms and serve in wars.”

A prominent Presbyterian cleric said: “Every reasonable person is in favour of peace, but there comes a time when something more important must be considered —for instance, honour, righteousness and freedom. Every observer of international events must realise that an entirely passive attitude toward truce-breaking and unscrupulous aggression simply delivers the cause of humanity into unworthy hands. A defensive warfare on behalf of the great ideals for which Christian democracy stands has been recognised as in harmony with Christian principles by all the leading branches of the Christian Church.”

“I refuse to take up arms against a man of any other nation with whom I have no quarrell and do dirty work for someone else who will gain by it. I prefer a firing squad. That was my attitude in 1914, and it has not changed in 25 years.” This statement of his attitude to war was made by the Rev C. W. Chandler, vicar of St Andrew’s Church, ’Cambridge, at a public meeting in Hamilton last week, at which the question, “You and Your Attitude to a Future War,” was discussed.