CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1940, Page 2

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

ATTITUDE OF CHURCH. ANGLICAN SYNOD DECISION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 17. The hope that visits to the clergy by conscientious objectors seeking assistance or advice might result in a change of attitude on the part of objectors was expressed by Canon A. H. Norris, during a discussion by the Christchurch Anglican Synod. At the same time he expressed approval of the principle that the convictions of genuine objectors should be respected. He was speaking to a motion moved by the Rev. H. S. Hamilton as follows: “That realising that there are conscientious objections to military service, sincerely believed to be founded on the Gospel of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, this synod, representing the Church in council, agrees that men holding such objections should be given advice and assistance by the clergy where required.” Mr Hamilton said he was not moving the motion because he was a pacifist. He was not a pacifist. “However, I trust that, however great the strain may become, we may never put compulsion on men to be false to their convictions. “If I were satisfied that a man was genuine I would be quite prepared to support his case before a tribunal,” Mr Hamilton added. “If I thought him not genuine, I would show him the door.” Canon Norris, seconding the motion, said he was supporting it because he had been asked to, but he was very willing to support it. He hoped the prime movers of the motion would not think him flippant if he expressed the hope that young men with conscientious objections would follow the example of three ardent pacifists he had known. “They proved in their conversation at the dinner table to be most pugnacious speakers,” he said. “Their language was certainly not that of doves of peace, so that I, a meek militarist, could hardly stand up to it. The sequel is that one is now a military chaplain, the second has volunteered in England, and the third, also in England, is a second-lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. “Do you think, your Grace, that Canon Norris might undertake the opening of some kind of clinic?” asked Mr E. Hitchcock. “I take no credit for the conversions,” Canon Norris replied. Mr H. D. Andrews said he could see no reason for the motion. Surely the tribunals set up to deal with conscientious objectors were adequate. He suggested that those who brought the motion forward had an ulterior motive of persuading the Synod to express, even indirectly, sympathy with,the objectors’ point of view. (Murmurs of “No.") Mr R. S.. D. Harman said the proposal was merely to instruct clergy to do their job, to do what was naturally expected of them. He moved that Synod proceed to the next business. Mr Harman’s motion was carried and the discussion lapsed.