PROTESTANT WITNESS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 143, 14 March 1938, Page 3

PROTESTANT WITNESS

Attitude To Roman Catholicism MEETING AT AUCKLAND Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 13. Reasons for the recent appeal to the Protestant citizens of Auckland to absent themselves from the procession of the Host conducted in connection with the Roman Catholic centenary celebrations were given by speakers at a meeting of Protestant witness held to-day Congregations numbering in all approximately 3000 filled the Pitt Street Methodist Church, where the addresses were delivered, in addition to the Sunday School Hall and the Beresford Street Congregational Church, which were installed with radio amplifiers for , the occasion. Introduced by the Rev. Ferguson Fish, who was chairman, the Rev. E. T. Olds said the meeting was to be nothing in the nature of a condemnation but for a quiet and dignified statement of the ground occupied by the Protestants who stood for religious freedom at all costs. i

“The Roman Catholic Church, which has no more right to the name of Catholic than we have us Protestants, has recently been placing before the public of Auckland aud New Zealand, through the medium of radio, her point of view in religion.” said Mr. Olds. “Goodness -knows they spent enbugh money on their celebrations, which included a procession for which permission was given by the city council, but that permission would not have been granted if the council had been ’vide awake to what lay behind it. ’i lie procession was a part of Roman Catholic worship that we look on as definitely blasphemous,” Mr. Olds continued. “To carry the Host in procession is adoration and any act of adoration is idolatory. Thus we urged our people to stay away from the procession for the sake of peace and harmony.” (Applause.) “We are not a church that can say ‘You must stav a way,’ but, at t he same lime, we regard as brethren and sisters those who belong to the Roman Catholic Church. “Only propaganda for public consumption was presented to our public by Rome during the celebrations” Mr. Olds said. “Not everything she is but only facts for public consumption were offered.' However, those with eyes and ears could discern the implications of many of, the statements made by th” sjieakers. Lots of Protestants were possibly hoodwinked with the talks, but if they allow the wool to be pulled over their eyes by such plausible talk for propaganda purposes only they are bigger fools than I think they are.” Mr. Olds said Rome was out to conquer England from a religious point of view.