THE PROPOSED SUNDAY MOTOR RUN

Evening Star, Issue 16033, 9 February 1916, Page 1

THE PROPOSED SUNDAY MOTOR RUN

The Rev. George Hciglnvay, secretary of the Council of Churches, asks us to publish the following communication, which has been sent to the secretary of the Otago Motor Club , 11 At a meeting of the executive of the Council of Christian Churches held yesterday afternoon, reference was made to the protest offered a few days ago by the president against the proposal of your club to make a monster Sunday motor tour for the returned soldiers. The action of the president was most cordially endorsed, for the one feeling of our ministers is that the question has most important bearings upon issues which immediately touch the Christian heart. And I am now instructed to give expression to that which was voiced in our discussion—viz., that the Council of Churches note with an ever-deepening regret the disregard of the Sabbath as a day of rest, and the strongly pronounced" tendency in many quarters to make it a mere day of pleasure. We yield to none in admiration of the valor displayed by the troops and in recognition of the splendid services they have rendered to their King and Country. Further, we applaud the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Motor Club in their desire to show kindness to the men who have_returned invalided after so heroically contending for our liberties at the iront. Wherein wo differ, however, is as to whether or not such a humane intention is absolutely necessaij that is, whether it is not possible to secure a sufficient number of cars for another day, and so in no way interfere with the quiet and sanctity of the Lord’s Day. Your most courteous letter in reply to the Rev. j • Cray Dixon, and frank assurance that your views so largely accord with lus > encourage us to suggest very respectfully even yet a reconsideration b.Y your club of their decision, so honoring the Christian conscience of the community and assisting the churches in their endeavor to preserve inviolate the day, the value of which has been so fully attested through all °]W national history, and which we do still feel it is of the highest importance to safeguard as far as possible from all invasion. At the same time, we note your willingness to welcome a short religions service at your destination, the rot ore, if, after a due rosurvey of all facts, onr appeal for a change of fla >’ IS . C )IUK I to ho beset with insuperable difficulties on your side, and the run ns to be carried out, then most gladly will we do onr utmost to arrange a brief service at the place you may choose as your terminal point".”

Air Jas. A. Roberts, president of the Utago Motor Club, lias forwarded the following reply to the Rev. Mr Heigh way: Dear sir, lam in receipt of your letter of the Blh hist., addressed to the eceretary, and in reply have to. advise you that at is quite impossible for the club to arrange for anything like sufficient care to convey the large number of returned soldiers for an outing on any other day but i-unday. There is a general impression that all motorist* belong to the leisured class, but this is a mistaken idea, as 97 per cent, of our members arc men who are engaged in business, and therefore it is impossible to procure their services in sufficient numbers on any week-day. It was only after most careful consideration that my committee decided to hold the run on a •"Sunday, and as the days are now getting shorter and colder it is advisable not to postpone the outing. Unfortunately Eiaster is too late this year to be available for this purpose. We shall be glad to accept your offer to hold a- short servicc A and will be pleased to arrange our programme accordingly. As far as I know at present lunch will ha given to the men at Milton, ami we would suggest that the service be held before the luncheon. The time of departure from Dunedin will be regulated to fit in with your wishes on thus point. I think it advisable to inform you that nothing in the way of a sports programme is for a minute anticipated.”