THE CHURCHES AND THE DEFENCR FORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 5

THE CHURCHES AND THE DEFENCR FORCE.

, Sir,—-I am sure that the decision of pom a to establish denominational cadets "will be received with much regret by a large numlici <H people, even of men liko myself, who are Keen ,on national training for defence. 1 would bo grateful, therefore, if you would )r 'i ,m ! 1110 to place before your readers t.lio following for t heir consideration (1) Is it, <>r is it not, a function of tho Church of Got} o or^a ni>x> and to drill as a parochial or diocesan organisation a part of. tho lighting machine of tho Dominion, or to train lodi o _ become (i part of that maoliine? Is nob '" s ,l 'unction of the State, and is thero not a department in existence for that purpose. (o) j hough the clergy hope through j.J.«nomnmtional corps to keep in touch with 'io lads after they leave Sunday-school, even i Hi" corps i,, some extent enables them to | "o so, is 110 •; there grave danger, through | secularising the Church, and by lowering I no ic.eal in the minds of the lad?, that tho movement may defeat its own objects? Doe.? j it. not seem like an anti-climax to the general' j mission which so strongly insisted upon tlio . NJirih.n nature ami ideals of the Church? I Wl is i„ advisable thus to accentuate " our ; unhappy divisions?" In ,ho defence of out! country should we not. be able to work) shoulder to shoulder; in dependent of denortiinai ,o;ia!ism'! And would it; not be far h- ei so to do.' (4) Do (he members of the ("lurch think it, advisable to have, a parochial , or diocesan organisation which is not under I the control of the Church? We may have emit j o.K.<ets, but tho Defence Dooartment will ]>•» lie controlling aulhority. Which, in 11,« ajnmjjr or the lads, will come first, tho ideals un !'V • l ' gy ' ° r ! ' l,oso " f 'he Department? ■ iiai '■ 1,1 i) 1 " changes of time tho controllins power bo not in sympathy -with i lir> (lurch, or a strong partisan of somo jwirtienlar denomination? Have tin-so questions* .Hid all they involve lieen thought out? (5) Jlavf* we not in the boy scouts organisation .i bony which can, and will if properly .suijj ported, impart a high tone to the'cadet movement'.' Such a departure as the proj posed denominational cadets is so novel in j lis nature, so contrary to tlio traditions of. I ! Church, so quest ionable as to its ultimate! j benefits, that it. should be discussed by and j receive the sanction of the Church in synod, or some other representative assembly. As we are afforded no such means of expressing our opinion on the subject 1. desire, sir, to make tins protest through your columns. ChnstcJmrch. Ckukciiman.