CHURCHES AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12397, 10 January 1901, Page 5

CHURCHES AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

EQUALITY OF RELIGIOUS BODIES. A PROTEST FROM THE PRESBYTERIANS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, Jan. 9. The Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly of Vicioria, writing to the “Age,” explains why the Moderate rs of the'"Presbyterian Churches of the various States stood out of the Commonwealth procession. On reaching Sydney they found that the pre-eminent position had been assigned to the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches whilst the others were grouped far away at the other end of the procession. This was a gross violation of religious equality. They found that the responsibility for the order came from Downing Street and was intended to have, permanent authority in the Commonwealth. Had the responsibility rested with the New South Wales Government they would have taken their places in the procession and trusted to the Commonwealth authorities to bring their future action in the matter into harmony with the principle of religious equality. When, however, they found that Downing Street was responsible the Moderators determined to make their protest emphatic. The question of the official recognition of the Churches having been thus definitely raised, the Churches would not rest until it controlled the principle of religious equality, ~