DOMINION DAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 6

DOMINION DAY.

HOW SHOULD IT BE CELEBRATED?

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE OPPOSED,

DEPUTATION TO THE HON G FOWLDS

'l ■'A'fetfong deputation,: 'representing the jWelliiigtoa, 'Minister^'.',Association ■ .and the iWellington. Sunday!; Schools'.. Uunion, waited upon the Hon. G; Eowids (Minister for Education) ' yesteirday*to. protest against the. par-ticipation-of'tho .cadets! in the'proposed openair church serviceJqn! Dominion Day (Sop-.. .teitiber 56), ! - TVhictiVfolla; this 'year, on a Sunday/ Miv.B,;!A: : ;\VrigM i TSl.s. ) lined : .t'hV objects ;6f its .members.*. ';,.- : ' •, -; : ' : ': Eiiiottv :. V

.! The' Roy;- J:''K.'i ßlliitt stat«i' ; that-h'e-re-. presented Ithe '■ ■Wellington' Ministers', -Associatibri, ''which'-' comprised' someV3o'Congreg'a-; /tjohs': : of.'.'..the "different" •Protestant "deriomina-. !tions.:,vTheir-feeling..was: that- Sabbath; dese-crgtion,'-WQs'ipecdming- painfully-.; !prevalciit, andp'-in. , .;fco'niiectiori ..with the church,-to .which: he.i.belonged,,:th'ere;,was:.a .special i-Vigilaiicd/ Committeey"whose!diity.it was to : investigato this <ma|tterV;'.--If\-the'- proposed'-'demonstrar: |tiori :, !were:iield,Sh'e'.''shonld; ; n6tbe! surpris«l 'if -the .'Mini's{«rrWere!-c'alled! upen , to ; mount, the-stoolr.'pf,';'!repentance., * .'■ Apai;t .from-' the tliecloEicai ! !aßne ! ctj.tbey- claimed the intemn-'.i •tioii >6 I T; : 'tbd^'flin6ter.! ; on :three grounds.'".'in' :point-. out' that 'this , ; wVs -'anV entirely-. , ..new :-.departure.' 'HithertoJ.'.wh^n 1 ' a- 'holiday; had ..fallen-; 6H a .Sunday, ■;it ; had,been!obsery'cd{bn;the j !foll6w-. ing;!;.day; ■/.Itx was "no .wonderVthat .largo ;,num- v bers'yof know..-why ; ; there, was!.td\ ; be''!an!:. 'alteration ■ in'.thc v: custom'. ';'• To \reply_v;that/!|it !uva's: thought -proper;., that;, a. held ■■would-.be-to" . ; state , :o;nly. , '.aVffiyolous text.'!"lf'the-''dcmoii-stfation' took•tilape;it 'must.of .'necessity .'be '0/ ,kind : !of ic^rnivali^which -would, not,appeal devotional;feeUngs.'of. '.thoWifwhp'Jw.ero;: present. ■•'ln ; -the ■•■ second. ;pla'6ei"i'nianyjY of-. not. most j. of, the ; children ■ricciyed;;3U;the "religipus' instruction which: -"wa's-,impart«d to., them'at.Sunday' Echool.' The given : at ."'the.'- State 'sch'oolsj.wa?;.of ; secularnature,!and ,-from appearaheosii.would be so forsoriie .time Jatany:rate:V!lt-';Wa's' ! 'felt,-;therefore;.that thV ■teac'hersvof schools; who gave their of .some' -'recogpition.;-!ifvtho>(!adets. !ivero' called. out, .'nbi'dpuhtvJtheirJh'j-others^andi listers, ..who. were-.proud., of. sceing''!Atkiri3, .junipr,.-.in/his iuniform,/iypuld-,negleet'.' Sunday.;school' for :that-. aftprnoon.- •.' And hoVwished >tp. empha-t vthe'iChildreh .were ; ,encouraged to Temain/.away,!'from ''Sunday.'school, on - one' :aftornoohj::iti might.- bei difficult to get them ! to,- : ,a'tt.end: r.eg'ularly: in.. !the.: future; i It' wpu'ld .neyer?-doj,. either;, if ''the. prbpbsiM,.demonstra-~ ■tion ;,wero held,in the \norning anything. but.: ; keerivto' go'.to .He: thought-it":was-that !,whon :th()vmatter i.was! first ! v br6ught'. befp're ~ Cabinet';it.;was;net, ; cbn.templated-ta call'-.Put' ■the junior soldiers.':! , "As.,"to"who/wasiresponisible.cfor.:; their' i inclusion'fin::tho' proposed 'demphstration; ; vh'e*!.was.;.unable, to.;say. rlf : tKeir linclusjoii'-: were jan . after-thought, '. he 'could' not'•■;see'.why.: that,, portion^,'qf .the■ ;prp-' .'graOTne.'coruld^nbt■ '.be'.■abandpned..!!,.TKe ■ de-" iput'atiqn-'had thei-gfeatest' confidence..'ih' ; ?.tlie ;.Miiiister'i,vwho;.jivas.'npt only.,,:of•'• hiih-.moraV jefiaracter,'.but' .'also of.deep.'.religionsVcharac; -better 'than Mr.;. : Fpwids' j-t|iat-|it^wa^'rjgli^ousn"ess'- : 'that' ■ exalted:','a! 'nlatibni ; ;and:w^'its''.real!''defebcV.''.-,- ,, . : ''V'!'! : /Aii vSr.ftr:'';.". : ;!,JS-:;:)gs<':! i > ■■^-•'yi^v^^-i^'';'^ !0. -:'Shifer ;ol.j,hq tres.^byterian'.Sabbaih:.'Sunday.-. Schools'." I'AsSpcia-. (tiori)',;said.ithat-' ;; he;.wasjin' ; ¥eSrty'Sympathy' ; \yita; the; denfence .arrangements', of, Itryitand/he.'cqnsidered :that,'- : .wer!b'-.; : np'fcvin::Ws : ;closo/'touch c.vrith , defencq! 'm'attersi'asx'theyi should '.ho,!-it!/was'.a;i:faulfc clix^fj" t .jK*ivwev -rbo/T)roi>eßfr'~bLcaiJ£tsli. (thja'£brqpose3'!'im^ ' :^-^: i >. iw. jthβ',ip^ote.s^μ•VMf-ui;Tnb■! the :; members;';;.qf. ; ! the .deputationi -had;:.; boysi : in ;[,OT'e ; !,'cadet'. ; ;.corps';'. ~Njuinb'.ers;/of'/'parents>.hpw'eve^ivhad:!:told^ ; ■bqysi-iWould.iinqt'.'b'eV.'allowed/Jtoi-atte'ria/j'./He' offirarsi.-,'amqrig-iwhom J were." a rr!numbwiv-of /Bchboli.teachers; fwero "reqriired ~"tq !attend' th?'.demonstration jy.their .consciences" :did;nqt:' co^ had','! nbj'right! -tb' ■'. to';;!tho ..officers :'■;''Yoii: :must'attend,". .many.,v.forsooth) had disregard.:, -eilior:;;,theiri : yduty ;as; 'officers :or,their,'duty,. I tojGqd.>.:''.; . . '•/;-: l,^ Complimentary Recognition -of; Cod. V. ■

V.^ltf-waa'Vaisin^lar'i'ltog^'Vt^tV'lart^yeai , -, ( Day/i came'Tovuide'tu'ere; was ■ : : np,' recbgh : itipn;bfi«Cibtl Church-in-the; .celebtatipns".'. ;NowV,hbwever,';because."'tbe day Kapj)ened:vtpilfall;bn ; a':Suiidayi:Jt''seetaed;a Jf-itiltta-jbeenTdecided :<;o' : 'have v a •••■ ! bb'inplimmiaiySr«&gnitiqi>bf;vQp3:/ani4-.-tfi.e'' .Chuict'y'iThfeir./a^oclati'ohjV-:whipn . repfj&-, sentedVthb'^iggist'.inajorityj,of ithe" churches: .in:Vihe : not '..been :apprbabhed,';by'' : anj ; b6.dyj;in':"regatd^to■ the oeleoration's.j; \ ■"< to';:be; conducted ;at; any', by^tipse^ibfficials: l ■■''•■■■.'■.'- : .•-;■■;''.^.:''■ ' :-'; : ';'t'.:;. "■'fillr.^p.ewdney.':".We.feel/strongly in! regard "to-!tliis"ivp'oint.vv ; .: •-::':-' "•■.'.:• r'-: ; ';...'- -. : V- ; . ■■,;:'■ ir'tMr^Fciwlda:'You- have;:np; : reaspii,;tb/:be-:' causp'.' ii]' alwaye i;'re'cognitidn ■■.) of ■.' the.' : c;hap!«nf£ajaph^-' ''&e''eeifyices' : Wa': , bnW v ; ,b,e :: '■■'V'lMr.'jfiewdilej'': ■ AVjat ■ I ;wis'h ,to; emphasiso . ijvhich v represents '.the.-biggest-iproportipn. of, thoybburches,;;hdye. iip;!official'. linpwledgo r of;,:sucli*a.,church' par-; J ?:■/;'.'?4 '■■'■'>' '■V^''/''■•■ V; : .'Mr''. i -;T'bwlds Vsltthaß' n0., : .-Tieed-i to --except 'members who-hold. qfficiaj " posi-' 'tionsv^'iS'/- , ;!''■•"•!■' .■;■■;;:■•■■'■/ ■■■.:■■:■.■,•'••;■'-.'•*- ; '' , H:;Mr.. : pewdtfeyVißut.;they-:dojnot hold, tnoso. . ; pbsiti6ns'/-in :: regard::to:,the:cliurohes:,..' ; :..- .';■;: ■': .'iMrji-Fi)wlds■:• 3?licy-- in' regard'.tb. /theyxoluiiteer'B^;:";"'--.' '\:'\' : rit.-iv.'-'y , ''~ : '''')i ; '--. '.'■,-'■■: S-' '^Feelfngilii Centres^ '"■'...;^p.>

'■•Mr.'i'J.'''Gr.' Aγ'.'■' Ahfcen,. pre .'Sunday "-'Schopls'; 10 niph,v c'm'en'tiohed■;that.;'there^'■'.we're /.connected .with'\tho i unidni7s/Sunday?schpols , ) ' : ove'r4o,ooo.,-schol-. 'are,: andoYer,.l9Qo .teachefs.^The , :.Cliurc¥bf England clbi;gy,:did_.not belong.•,to;the;'Minis-;. ters'■ Aa'sbciation,;ribr didMiejehurch: of ;Eng-' iland vSiinclay..vschbols•■'belong; to -.tho ? Sunday! SbhpoM' '■.Uriibhfi-HPhad, -hojveyer,,J3eenasked: "Mark'si:' and'; the' .acting-vic'ar'.of ;St;■. Petpr',3; ':&. ■statevthat .they:;wero".,strpilgly, .opppsed'.tb the v. (Hear,\; hearl) .ii would. ■BeemiVthat; Hho ,by':-tlie' '\CTeatmgVquite r ,it-.'<,feeling; ■throughput itlip' Domiriipn.'-ao'iiar I'aa'-tHo.Suli-]; 'day, .'s'c'hobls! -. : ,'tfib.-';comitiuiiity»'wa-s' ronce rified;.'. Strong had' been .'f-for-warded" through, him.. by 'jtlip ..'4ucMahd,. PaWmerstpii'North, arid .Otago Sunday'Schobls' Unions; ,and.vby.i'tlio.Presby'te>ian.,-Sunday Schools'.:Union : lof v CanterburyV; in :whioh.'pro7'. ■yinoo..there- , .\ya's;':■'not : : a ligenc^ral , , ; -S.unday -Ho wished :to :r'omiiid'.the, ! Ministor thsiti.m'ariy. of, ;the;-,bqys; andVgirls; .in'New'Zealand no othei: religious in-. .-structipn—nb;otfier, moral;instruction prac- ■ tically^savo.'•' andf. except '.what'.. they -_picked upat'Sunday'schbol.:i : .lt;might:be; sq.id that it : was Only for' .one: Sunday in the-.yearji'.bu'V-he' '■■ would/ -lilsev. to 'point-out,.'that if- it.waa. ■-.wrong'toVdora-ffiing; bn" one .day,of the .year: 'it'was" : 'wrong to-do it.at;.all.;- -He hold that, 'rib j matter ; :;whatvpbrti6n;.bf,-tho'; clioseh;fbr/tlhe' J prqpoeed;;demonetration,.ri j t. would .'inferfere;. with;; Sunday .school work •U-jt would -siinplyr.nican' .that; .the Sundayschools 1 wbuldjbo; empty-for fliat day.V >■; y. "•'■■;'■ Th« Best 'Lcssbn v on • Patrlotisni.;;':;\ (' : '?Perhaii;Bome people might^nsk ■■;. ,Why„are the-iSunday 'schools not Iso; attractive ,tuat thb : children': would':not- want ;tp,;run ; away to "demonstrations of tbp-kindin, questioni; Ho would .reply: by. asking' how -many boys and 'girls, would go to. day school,if, the,proposed demonstration'took: place..on\a' i .wdek day Vat 'a particular hour .when . tlio;"day schools met. ''-•; Nobody could 'expect, them to make -the"Sunday schools.; so,' Very .attractiveas to enabje'.them: to ..compete.'against a "clemonstratibn'such as'iWas suggested, i ;He .knew."that.'tho'sympathies of tho :Minister were, tb^e-gt'eat,-extent;-with-the dep.iita-: 1 fen;: and- he: alap-knew, that :tbe ,: Minister

was in a very, difficult, positioft.r •■Mγ) Fowlds had his dutios as a statesman to. pßrform, but that duty would, he ■thought, bo host performed whon he recognised..that his. duty as a, Christian.also required|toibo ■performed. Tins was.the- first occasion, since the institu-

tion .of -Dominion Day. that-it .had' fallen on a Sunday, and :,rcsponsih,iJity | would rest -.on. Mr. Fowlds's■': shoulders,- and on'.thoso of his colleagues 'ify-;in ' regard to the first.'Sunday ■ on which', the ! event'vtobk place, ;they threw , the" whole-of -.tho'.traditions 'of ..the/people aside,', arid!,mado7a denionstriitip,B.fof..the .kind .'s/ugges'tcd; Ji , it were done'this year," it .tyould continue'/, tb be done, on every "Sunday which happened to.bo.Septeniber 2G... On ■'behalf-.of the-union ho wished to point 'out. to" thie': Minister' how much!'.thereYwas 'lying ■ on 'his -'shoulders, at; the. momont. it migh't'■ bo" ;said.'that. tho Government were 'desirous of gatKerfng. the cadet's together' to patriotism. : 'Hehad'noh'esitatibn f .iri.replying that', the; cadets; couldJget a"faf/.bettor : (esson ;on'4hat ; yery'high moral quality in :the Sun-, day schools than nt-the' , proposed.domonstra-. ion. (Hear/.hear.);.•>•';.-■,"! -,': ; :- ' - : ..'''•'' ;; iTHE MINISJER: INJREPLY;; ' V ; •■ The 'Hon. ;G.'.!lWldsi' !in|reply,.'said that

■heVwisho^, : in, ; inipressio> iwbich' seenied-tp'be'.existlngV-'and : •h'ad-. ; to. 'some'; extent';been; vdiced, that;dayi 1 ittz.,' that' ; h'e- was. lending <his ; ; Support ■, to ,;a r ' 'church^parade.on a-6uiitlay:;againsfc.hispwn IreligiouV-convictions^ -;was responsible to , ■: a"■' greater exteii^ 'form : of of-iDqminipn,l)ay; 'ihk lirasejfi'and .hovwoiild-likb* fo';sayi that, 'among those .'by'whbni,\rep'resentations'_;were. ■■inajio;-in-'.--faTOUr'..ofraio;hTir^':'parade;r. : irM<i: ; seycral persoTis'cQnneated:.w i ithstho',;vol.un.teers ! 'Whose rnamesr: could , : .■bei ; ,acdjpted;by.-thp / de'puta'tioji-asvthose, of/people, in. .the-iullost sympathy^yilhr'Church'wbrkvi; He-would'like to" say' at.':<shoe;;tKat.theri.was' no_ idea-.pf ibe.OTlobra>ibn'.seing ; merelyJaVcomplime'ntary, ■r^gnitiori'^f''?tW\.-Sabbath;-'-pay_vV-':;;lt , :>Ts'.aß. 'thought'that\it%puld;. be: a'splendid-bpppr-; 'tunitvi/'-fbiva :natioiiar;,'recogmtion. of; tne d©-, 'sirability-ofi'religibus service..'' ■'.■;/! :! ..'-'■■'..v'!■ OrdinaryParado3 ; io'bo.Held/- •■ )' ! , The Vdeputa'tion :.h'a'd; 'strong 'casb. ;agaiflsfc,;the :hplding- of;'.a^cpmb.inedVopeiv 1 'air ;service-pn'f the.■,Sunday\aftetn'oon, at-the "time ; Surijday..Vphopls^were. l assembling.', 'That jiti ; frbuld':bb'(injurioUs,to. Sunday schbol work/.'lio.;recognised- at ; ; bnbe, : {and J could; ,assurer.the:-.deputatibn f ;,that y.he • :: did: ,Vnot want .„to ';:■ do'; r.>anytlimg'■;-in^-, such--;' a' ■. di- . beeii; 'serif pfficers'cb'mnianding districts, and.toXthe cadet"^officer's,'bad^bcfiri'made; pretty plaint "■ Arrangements!.wore i '...to. .-b0..:, niade. .locally.ijfi; suit local: Personally,he saw-no.rear' tlie.'|arrangemen&:Fjiould' not bo so .'mnd^p^ v s6 , '.-;'asyndt-V:t6Mc'onflict'.'-'^fith v 'Surid i ay ■sc'hbpi work:;in.;the.'afternoon. ■.■ ; ;No';instruc-' tions ■ had been'sent to "tHe effect that thcro 'should bp-a'comoincd'cliurch.^^servioe.;"..lt'was 'true, that .there -had • been'j aisuggestion that, :■ ini'J-ha .'■JarEer.'-'ceiitre^: It';'; jihißbt-;.-.be \a;; Jraore, suitable 'way^to.hold.a..combined'.serVice,:,.but that was -rrt necessary'- part'.of [ the' ments.. v; Np;'oi)o- ooula;bbjecV,.tb'. the : volunteers ■turning -out and-vtttVJndirig their,; .own churches—(heari' ■"hearj^and.i;. .the ' .cadets' might' surely; .asspmble;an(l : 'aftend 'their- own churches.'in the;'sanie"i\vay. .;i^'i^-wi^.C'i.

y fi : Attehdahce hot ;: \' .' . -Afteri-tie'' that hadj been ; made .Be-had: no-doubt , , but-that .that would' be: done. -."Officers 'commanding';' distfictsVhad'.'the arrangements ; entirely'/"•; in-v.'their ■■ .own hands, : : and' he % ■ would vjieo ■•' that -the position was m.aido:clcar : to; theMr-thit if- ob'jectipn , 'is ,madd to 'any^combined;service'arrangements shall- be'mddo' for'. , an'.'ordinary ■ade;?.and' that thev'mcniber 3 "either".'of;.the :vplunteers\orbf the cadetV.-'shhll ;be freo';,to '■ assembleVat^their;^oiyn/icliiirche?.,''•,He. could; '.deputation ,that-' thp..decision _ to ' recbgnisc.Domiiiion'Dajjori'the ;day.:on whicli ■it-would. fall\waa 'dpnpJthoroj'fir'tho.national ■ recognition'of -tliel •claims vof f;6Kurph 'service .Hhan'for r 'an : : had »bVen^cofisid6red--by-.tlie 1 Vofficers" cflmmandiiiK distriAts'.' he ' felt ■ surcjvthat'-the," celebrations ■a^/'ch'u■rcli^paiade/^\.'.Thp^bttd^";;wpuld./■s , im.•• ■plyJall''iii''as'part:'pf ' added .that:tlicre-rifecdtbo'no further fear; of-am afteriioon'cpmbiiie.dAservice: being, 'held,' ! - and? that thofSjwquldVbo;.- no compulsion, ori'eithef'offic'ers put. ;AII that : was ;de'Bired!.'waß,.',t-hat.' : they,' should turn j but , for'a; generalVchurch'parade.••/;'■,'

' MessrsV'. J:" Hl.Bethune'aridlCo;:' advertise .an auction sale;.to be hel'd'at:their ,rbpms,-Fentber-stoii■'. Street', J bn.'Wednesday/; September- .15, • at : l'a\ : p.m;v' k when.;.tliey;'.vfiH'','6elV' , Dy~:auction, ..by instructions from the'Eegistrar..-of.;.thc'S,uprcnie i Courtsitho.'prbperty ini.Sy.dney.'.Street,/known 'as No- 20-roomolresidence bn.level.land, having '120 ft,' frontage , ;fahd. containing-. 1 '.rood 17.fi perches. '..■ Tor. terms '"And -.conditions!; of sale buyers .raqy .apply to .Messrs'. Bolton.: and Organ, solicitors, 148 Feathe'Hton -.Street,':6Y: to Messrs. Bethiirie:. :arid';;-C0.,-';IM ; Fcatherstou, Street;. :'''!' J, rf'i!"!?';' -'•;■"•■ ■■ ' :■ '•■MrsV JC.'";LV Steveris'iJn's : -meetlnßs,' under' the-auspices-of ..the.'WiC.T.U.V are..advertised'to-'day-:-:'..;';.::'.V''.•?.'■"'■-■■ ■■'•■>.-'.■■!'•:'.■:, '-. ' ■•■■'■ '■■ ' ■ Kennedy Ltd., announce .'Hie;:sale'., by ■'auction'for .Wednesday, September' 29; under tliq-conduct'of the Eegistrar of the Supreme Co'urti'ipf'a valuable pro-' perty ; a't ICirori; containirig: a' modern sixroomed honse'and section of .laud,' part of the ;Standcn ; Estate. . - , : . ; ; ;; .:.■.'; '-An-'advertisement 'appeare'elsewhere; relative :to■■;a'lest':-'che.4ae.;;Tho :pnblib:.ato notified- that -•paymont;'ha3 i bean: etoppodi;;;'; .;, \ '■'■'~