PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 5 April 1919, Page 5

PROTESTANT POLITICAL ASSOCIATION

ADDRESS BY ,REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT. The School of Music was crowded, last evening, when the Rev. Howard El. lio-t, national- lecturer for the Protestant Association, gave an address on the aim* and object® of that organisation. Mr T. Fet it, Deputy-Mayor, presided in the absence of the Mayor, who was attending a meeting of the City Council. Revs. G. H. Gibb (Presbyterian) and d. Laird (Baptis-), and Mr F, A. Dickson (Church of Christ) were on the platform. Apologies were received. from Dean Week© (Anglican) and Rev. E. D. Patchett (Methodist). Mr Ellio : t spoke for close?! on two hours, outlining the objects of the Association and emphasising the importance of unity in order t© maintain ihe liberties that- had been so hardly won m the past. The Association, he said, had been in existence 18 raon’-hs, and already there were 200 branches in the Domjmon with a membership of ZOU,UOO,

Mr'EUiott was warmly applauded at the conclusion of his address.

Enrolment cards were handed round among the audience, indicating that a strong membership would be assured, when the local branch is formed (on the return of Mr Elliott from the West Coast), On the motion of the Rev. G. H. Gibb, seconded by Mr Edward Webley, it was resolved, “That.this meeting of the Protestants of Nelson; thanks the Bev. Howard' Elliott for hig address, expresses its confidence in ium national organiser of the IF.Jf.A., and pledges itself to promote those principles of freedom which that association inculcates.” *

The meeting opened and concluded with the-pinging of a verse of the National Anthem.