NAGGING NORTH

NZ Truth, Issue 749, 25 October 1919, Page 2

NAGGING NORTH

A Blast from the Baptist Brigade THE YVHOOPINGS OF WRETCHED WOWSERS.

"Christians" In Conference at Christ-

church

(From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.)

It is just as well for the ipeople of New Zealand that that self-satisfied body known as the Baptist Union is not taken seriously, and that its annual Christchurch conference attracts attention only 'by reason of .some peculiar out-door happenings which marked some of its predecessors indelibly on the- recollection of decent citizens. The sole "raison d'etre" for this annual foregathering of the wowser clans seems to be the

OBTAINING OF PUBLICITY, through the medium of newspaper reports of the proceedings, for the vaporings of the lean kill-joys who constitute the membership of this loudmouthed body. lii order to enlighten those members of 'the community who do not read the Baptist newspaper, we propose to convey some idea of the Christianlike sentiments expressed at the most recent conference of the Baptist Union, and trust that these charitable uterances of Ministers of the Gospel will serve to show, m. their true colors,- the motives and desires of the despicable minority which, in' the name. of Christ, would seek to immerse the world m its paltriness and its cant. Of course, the conference passed its annual motion of lament against the .popularity of horse-racing and the tote; but, this year, it tagged on a protest against the faciliies given 1 by the post office to bookmakers. To the Rev. J. J. North was, as usual, given the opportunity to get an irresponsible rant off his clerical chest. Here is a sample of true Christian language, as it is interpreted through the medium of the apostle North: — "Racing is not a real sport at all; it is one of the dirtiest customs known . , . . . Those who participate m it are crooks and twisty peo^[e. Racing is becoming thicker, deeper and slimier ... It vitiates the public taste" — and so on. We shall not proceed to offer any comparison between this Christian gentleman and some of the "crooks and twisty people" who come 'to. mmd — our readers all over the country are, no doubt, quite capable of making a correct comparison themselves. This characteristic blast of North's, however, was as honey and balm to the discussion which subsequently took place on a motion condemning "this hated, damnable militarism," as' the ■proposal to put youths into military training- camps was called. One holy man, m the person of the Rev. C. Duncumb, reckoned that the Territorial system made larrikins bf boys, and that it brought them into contact with some of the

MOST FILTHY-MOUTHED MEN m the country: Another true layman Baptist said that the military system had hurled 10,000 boys from Christian homes before the magistrates. The majority of officers (presumably Territorial officers) were not fit to associate with boys. So uncouth and so vilifying became the discussion that the Rev. R. S. Gray, who cannot by any means be regarded as consistently responsible m his utterances, was forced into indignant ' protest against the views expressed and against' the language used. ' The church, he said, had had the courage to say that if a man chose to reside m a civilised country it was his duty to fight for that country. He would emphatically deny that the Territorial system made blackguards and larrikins of the boys. : The filthiest language was used by those boys who' did not attend camps, btit hung round street corners. It was most unjust to malign officers by saying that they were not fit to associate with the boys. He hoped no further charges would be made against men who were doing their best, some of whom had served m the greatest crisis m history. The diplomatic Mr. Gray, seeing that his confreres were making asses of themselves and showing, themselves to the world as the true type of Wowser Christian, evidently sent forth his apology as an emollient upon the offended honor and outraged characters pf some of the bravest and finest fellows the world has ever seen. But we are inclined tothink* that our . soldier officers will not be deceived by THIS BIT OF BLARNEY into believing that the Baptist Conference does not regard them as a lot of low-down blackguards. Thus does the wowser -pour forth his gratitude for the sufferings and sacrifices' which have enabled him to traduce his saviors m security and with impunity. So convinced was the conference that the pious opinions quoted were correct, that • the motion was carried, m spite of Mr. Gray's protests and appeals to common decency.