CHURCH AND STATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1940, Page 6

CHURCH AND STATE

ATTITUDE SINCE WAR STARTED.

Since the war began the British Government has acted toward organised religion in a manner that is not neutral, but definitely partisan, writes Canon Roger Lloyd in the "Spectator.’’! First, it exempted from military ser-1 vice the whole body of the clergy of every denomination. There is a certain amount of controversy about this step, but it could not have been taken by

“ Government which saw no value in Christianity, even as organised in its existing churches. Secondly, it put every theological student who had begun his training on the schedule of reserved occupations. This it would not have done had it not been anxious that lhe Churches should not find themselves badly hampered after the war by a lack of trained men to fill their vacancies. Thirdly, it let its anxiety be known that the missionary societies should not abate their work during the war, but increase it. Modern Governments at war run much | more true to form when they show they have little lime to spare for anyone wlio does not wear a uniform.

make a shell or produce wheat. Experience suggests that they generally regard the function of tiic Churches in a war to keep up the morale of the people with one hand while they run canteens with the other. Thai a modern Government, in the middle of a war should not only care but publicly show that it cares for the well-being of the Christian Churches—this is something altogether now in modern times, and as unexpected as it is welcome.