HOSPITAL SHIP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 19 June 1915, Page 3

HOSPITAL SHIP

APPO INTMENT OF CHAPLAIN METHODISTS SATISFIED Satisfaction with tho appointment of a chaplain 011 tho Hospital Ship to represent non-opiscopal churchcs was expressed by a deputation which waited on the Minister of Dofenco (tho lion. J. Allen) yesterday. Tho Kg v. J. Dawson expressed tho sympathy of the Church with the Ministor in his sad loss. -As Minister of •Defence Mr. Allen had many difficult tasks to perform, and tho deputation did not wish to add to his troubles, but 1 rathor to • lighten them. The Bey. J. Of. Chapman then read two resolutions passed by t'lie Methodist Church Committee of Exigency in Wellington : — "This committee views with pleasure the appointment by the Minister of Defence of a non-episcopal chaplain (the Uev. S. Dutton) to tho Hospital Ship, and thanks the Minister for tho recognition thus given to the claims of the uon-cpiscopal Churches." "This committee respectfully ex-presses-its sincere and heartfelt sympathy with the Hon. James Allen in the death of his. son, who fell fighting for the King and tho Empire. It- prays Almighty God, tho Great Consolar of the human heart, to sustain him and his family in their great j loss." The Minister, in reply, thanked tho deputation very sincerely for their sympathy. He had lost a son, but he took some comfort in tie fact that he had lost him iu a good cause, and that his eon had died as he had lived, doing his duty. As to the appointment of chaplains on the Hospital Ship, it had appeared to him criificult at tho outset to depart from the advice given him as to the appointment of an Anglican and a Roman Catholic clergyman. But he saw it would he difficult to satisfy the demands that might come from other denominations to have each represencd by a chaplain. Realising that, ho had attempted to do tho best he could under the circumstances. He had been sorry there was any possibility of a misunderstanding, bui> on tho ,part of the Methodist Chuioh he did not think there had been a misunderstanding. He had been very grateful to i'he Rev. Mr. Chapman for having waited upon him privately, and if others had done the same thing the misunderstandings probably would not have occurred. He waa pleased, ho be 'able to announce that the appointment of the How Mr. Dutton had been confirmed, and from his (the Minister's) point of view it was extremely satisfactory, because he did not look upon that minister as either a Presbyterian or Anglican; ho was a 6oldier - chaplain. * (Hear, hear.) No Anglican appointment had yet _ been definitely made, although, the Minister said, he did not think that the Primate's nominee would be the selected man. He might get into the'bad books of his own Church through this, but ho had other bishops behind him •in tho matter of the clergyman he hoped to appoint l , who .was a man whom he was quite 6ure the Methodist body would approve.