AUCKLAND PRESBYTERIANS AND THE CORONATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11987, 9 June 1902, Page 7

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERIANS AND THE CORONATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have been not a little surprised by the discussion on the above subject at the recent meeting of the Auckland Presbytery. As you say, sir, in the heading of your report of that meeting, it was "an interesting discussion." But surely your readers must have found it somewhat amusing also. The Auckland Presbyterian ministers will not join with their brethren of the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, and other denominations in a united service on Coronation Day. because those brethren represent Dissent: they would rank as Dissenters in the Old Country: whereas the Presbyterian ministers of Auckland represent a national church. Are these gentlemen trying to throw dust in the eves of the public? What is a national church? It is a church by law established. There is no other; and the ministers and members of all other churches are Dissenters. All Presbyterians, therefore, outside the Established Church of Scotland, aro as certainly Dissenters, as the Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, etc., in Scotland. If it bo true, as I understand, that the Rev. Gray Dixon hails from the Free Church of Scotland, then he was a Dissenter in that country; and so were the large majority of his brethren, now forming tho Auckland Presbytery. The relations between the Established Church of Scotland and the United Free Church are cordial, but let your readers watch their newspapers to see 'if the Church, by law established, unites with the Dissenting United Free-Church in Coronation services. The Anglicans of Auckland represent but one church, and as that church happens to be the State Church of England, one can understand their having a Coronation service all to themselves. But even they are not wise. In this colony, where, thank God, there is no State Church, the terms "National Church," ".Nonconformist," "Dissenter," should never be heard; nor should the ideas which they stand for ever find expression in tho speech or action of religious leaders. And this is the serious side which 1 see to the action of tho Presbyterians in reference to Coronation Day. Such action tends to perpetuate and accentuate the religious differences which obtain in Great Britain here in this land, where all religious denominations have, what, they ought to have everywhere, and will have, when justice reigns, equal rights and privileges.— am, etc., • COXOBEG.VTIONALIST.