DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 16853, 1 October 1918, Page 4

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held this morning, the -Moderator (the Rev. J. J. Cairney) presiding.

THE CENSORSHIP, The Clerk (the Rev. J. Kilpatriek) referred to the prote&t made by the Presbytery at their last meeting against the Government's action in forbidding tho importation of a book, 'Romance of the Caiholio Church,' written by Dr Robertson, Tho reply to this protest had already been published. The decision placed Dr Robertson's book in the third class mentioned, which, iii the judgment of the Government, mad«> it a book that should not Do allowed to oome into the Dominion. Whether tho Presbytery should accept this decision or not was another matter, said Mr Kilpatrick. He was one of those people who had not read the book, but a member of the Presbytery had promised to lend him a copy, and ho intended to read it. in spite of anything the Government might say. And he would, if the Government wished, supply the nsmo of the member who lent him the book, so that he might be arrested. He moved that the correspondence be received. This was seconded by Professor Dickie, and carried.

The Rev. A. Cameron thought that the matte should be carried further. Ho moved —" That a deputation from the Presbytery Trait upon tho Acting Prima Minister and lay before him extracts from the ' Tablet/ arid ask whether the Government did not think it necessary to suppress a publication •which had made grave oharges against the morality of John Knox." He did not want to create sectarian bitterness. 'He had read Dr Robertson's book, and there was no doubt that it did lay charges against the Catholic Church; but the question was whether those charges were true or not. The deputation ho suggested should go be-fore Sir. James Allen armed with tho copies of the ' Tablet' which contained the objectionable articles and ask him if the same censorship was to be exercised over matter published within the Dominion as over that published beyond it. If they were fissured that this was so, thou the Presbytery should bow to the decision of the Government; but if not, they should not bo satisfied. The Rev. R. B. Davies seconded the motion. He had read both the books that were tho subject of the controversy, and' while he considered one of them came within the description given it by tho Government, the other did not, Tho Government had suppressed 'The Green Bay,' which was read by comparatively few people, but the 'Tablet,' which was read by the faithful throughout New Zealand, was allowed to go on. If literaturo was to be censored, it should be done on the broad basis of justice. The motion, was carried, and a deputation appointed. DAY OF THANKJBGrVING. The Rev. Mr Kilpatrick said that, as they had a day of intercession when our troops were being driven back, h© thought they should have a day_ of thanksgiving now that they were advancing. He moved that next Sabbath Day bo observed as a day of thanksgiving in all congregations within the bounds of the Dunedin Preßbytcry. The Rev. Mr Cameron seconded tho motion, which was carried. The members rose and sang a verse of the National Anthem and tho dasology, NEXT MODERATOR.. The Rev. Professor Hewitson was nominated as tho next Moderator of the General Assembly, i „ EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION. On the motion of Rev. Mr Cameron, seconded by Professor Dickie, it was resolved to send to President Wilson a letter conveying the Presbytery's appreciation of the services he has rendered to the allied cause, and, through it, to the whole world.—On tho motion of Mr Prentice, seconded "kj tho Rev. Sir Davies, it was agreed- to send a sbnilar message to the Hou. Mr Lloyd George.