Non-Conformist Appeals Against Call-up, 4th July 1917

“NOTTINGHAM CLERK AND A GROCER’S ASSISTANT CLAIM EXEMPTION AS LOCAL MINISTERS.

“HANDED OVER TO MILITARY.

“An exhaustive inquiry into the constitution of the Church of Christ occupied the attention of Mr. Fred Acton and Mr. J. Crawford at the Nottingham Summons Court this morning [4th July 1917], when two members of the Church, John Charles Henry Parr, 41, of 11, St. Bartholomew’s-road, and Charles Herbert Palmer, 39, 88, Main-street, Bulwell, were charged with failing to report for military service.

“Captain Bailey, for the military authorities, called Major McGuire who stated that Parr was a motor engineer’s clerk and a married man in Class 45. He had been appealed for by his church and had been refused exemption and was finally called up for June 23rd. He voluntarily submitted himself for medical examination on June 22nd and was classed A1. He now claimed exemption as a Nonconformist minister.

“Palmer was a married man in Class 43, and had five children. He was a grocer’s assistant, had appealed on domestic grounds, and had been appealed for by his church and also his employers. He had been called up for June 17th, but had failed to report. He had, however, been medically examined and classed B1. With Parr he now claimed exemption as a Nonconformist minister.

“Mr. Huntsman, who appeared for defendants, said that the War Office had left the decision on such matters to the local magistrates. What they had to decide to-day was whether the Church of Christ was a denomination, and if so, whether Messrs. Parr and Palmer were regular ministers of that church. If these were established as facts, his clients were entitled to exemption. Mr. Huntsman then went on to describe the constitution of the church, whose ministers or “presidents” were unpaid and followed secular, occupations for livelihood. He quoted the Bible and the Council of Carthage held in the year 398 to show that a minister of the gospel was entitled to work a secular trade for a livelihood, and also instanced present day divines who added considerably to their stipends by literary work.

“Parr and Palmer gave evidence to the effect, that they were presidents of churches within the denomination, the former of Gordon-road church with 90 members, and the latter of Coventry-road church with 104 members, and evidence as to the importance and standing of the church was given by Mr. W. Brister, the district secretary, Mr. James Marsden, J.P., of Wigan, and Mr. J. W. Black, J.P., of Leicester.

“The Magistrates decided that the church was indeed denomination, but held, that defendants were not regular ministers within the meaning of the Military Service Act. They therefore had no option but to hand them over to the military, with the hope that the latter would show them consideration in calling up.

“Mr. Huntsman at once gave notice of appeal.

'Nottingham Evening Post', 4th July 1917.