SUNDAY PARADES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 296, 11 December 1912, Page 8

SUNDAY PARADES.

THE PRESBYTERY ALERT.

The Rev. A. Miller, mimster of Eden dale Church, last n'rght stated at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery that he had been made aware that parades of the Territorials were being held on Sunday mornings in the Auckland district. He had learnt from one of his Sunday school scholars that in his owti parish, on Eden Park, a parade had been held last Sunday morning. It was, lie understood, a voluntary ]iarade, the inducement held out being that if the boys became proficient in drill they would get a trip to the Christchureh tournament. That was undoubtedly against the proper observance of the Lord's Day, and the Presbytery should enter a very strong protest, and make representations to the Defence Department on the subject.

The Rev. Isaac Jolly agreed with Mr. Miller that the Defence Department should be approached on the matter, and informed that if the Territorial movement resulted in the profanation of the Lord's Day, the result would inevitably be the strong alienation of the Christian Church from the operations of the Defence Act, which the members of the churches, as loyal subjects, at the moment upheld.

Mr. Pilkington stated that, while he was in sympathy with Mr. Miller's point of view, he would like to ace the matter approached with caution, and nothing done without proper inquiry as to the facts. He knew that a somewhat simi- : lar proceeding of holding drill practices on Sundays prior to military tournament., had been in vogue under the old volunteer system, which was done without the sanction and knowledge of the military authorities. While he was of opinion that such proceedings should bB discouraged, he felt that the matter had to be approached with caution.

It tt-6 eventually decided to refer the matter to the Religion and Morals Committee, with power to take immediate action if it were found that actios were necessary. DEPART?.IENTAL RBGD_,ATIOKS. (By Telegraph.—Press -J—wclatlon.) CHRISTCSU—CH, Tuesday. The Minister for Defence (Hon. Jas. Allen), in the course of a brief interview to-day stated, in regard to Sunday drill of Territorials, that tie whole matter i« to be controlled by regulations, which he expects to have submitted to him on his arrival in Wellington.