A PROTESTANT DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12639, 17 April 1903, Page 7

A PROTESTANT DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.

The Rev. G. E. Colo delivered an address to Protestants at the Choral Hall last evening. There.wm a large attendance, the hall, despite the wot weather,, boing practically full. Dr de Lautour occupied the chair, and the Revs. Messrs Lidoll, Guy, Sinclair, and Brooke were also on the platform. After a verse of the doxology had been sung and Mr Lidell had engaged in prayerj The Chairman mudo a few complimentary remarks oonoerning Mr Cole, and said the meeting tlrnt night was for the purpose of discussing Protestantism, and as a result forming a Protestant Defence Association. —(Applause.) Some of them might say, Was there any necessity for doing so? Was there any danger? The danger perhaps was not so apparent that the man in the street could see it, but it existed nevertheless, and it was all tha moro dangerous because it was Subtle, underground,' persistent, and 'continuous.'- They prided themselves oil the ' liberty ( enjoyed in their community, but that liberty must not bo allowed .to develop into h. license llia't would endanger their Protestantism. He referred to the uneasy feeling that existed in the community that undue prominence was being given to> Roman Catholics in the matter of appointments in the civil servico, and said that though.promises had been mado .l>y Sir J. G. Ward 1 to . bring forward figures to. disprove tlie oliarge nothing had been,done, and lie must believe it was true. The agitation to have the Coronation oath changed, tho libol of Cardinal Moron on the British niivy over tho Samoan war, the Biblf-burn-ing in Fiji, were also referred to by the speaker as instances of what had submitted tamely to." Something of greater importance would, however, • ono day turn lip to stop the march of Protestantism, and ifc was not improbable' if they did mot do something now they might one day bo holding meetings similar to that now being held and with revolver shots outside. He' did not wish to interfere with tho liberty of their Roman Catholic brethren, or their rights, but it was of paramount importance that they should protect their own interests and their own fair country.—(Applause.) The Rev. Mr Colo, who was received with loud applause, said lie,appeared on tho platform to show his sympathy with all classes of . the community, Roman Catholics included. In regard to the matters concerning which their meeting was held no education was necessary. What was required was firm,' decided, and friendly action. They wero contending for an open Bible for the people, and it waa their endeavour to see that none' of the liberty they enjoyed at prosent in this connootion was infringed upon. He referred to the disturbances at the Rev. Dill Mackay's meeting in New South Wales, and paid that the Roman Oatholica had made a mistake in taking tho action they had. Tho association it was proposed to form deserved their support, because the Bible was its own defence. They I need not bo afraid of it anywhere. It could take care of itself.—(Applause.) Another reason in -favour of the association was that it would assist them as a ProtestaJit people to speak with one united 'voice through tha ballot box. They did not want the Church to bcoomo a political institution, | but they wanted the nation to bo built up<on the Bible, and not on some wretchcd' abstraot. The Roman Catholics made their Church a medium through which they spcite to their peoplt politically, and there was always a danger in this. The duty of the Church should be to prcaoh that there was a Saviour for the world. After referring again to the necessity of unity, he said they might learn 'a lesson from tho Catholics and inoulcate the -principles of Protestantism into the minds of their children. The Church of Rome was not different from what it was, and was it wise for' Protestants to Bend their children to Romsm Catholic schools, as was often' done, to get their education finished.—(Cries of "No.") For the sako of a policy it was not wise to sacrifice a principle. By their practices Mid usage.? the Roman Catholics woro on the 9ide of on® of the greatest evils Protestants had to fight, and this was tho liquor traffic.—(Applause.) After referring'to the good work done in the ranse of temperance by the people of New Zealand generally,, he said that in this movement under discussion their motto was " Defenoe, not defiance." Ho appealed to them to form the association and to stand shoulder to shoulder for God, liberty, and right.— (Loud applause.)

At the conclusion of Mr Cole's remarks Mr S.' A. Scott proposed a vote of tknks to lum for the address, aud, this being carried with acclamation, the meeting then considered the question of forming a Protestant association. On tho motion of tho Rev. T. G. Brooke, sccondcd ' by Jlr Frank Graham, it was decided unanimously—'" That a Protestant defence association be formed.",'' ' A committee, consisting of ,the Revs. T. G. 'Brooke, ,J. Guy, J. Meesra Maaengarb, F. Graham, de Lautour, W. King, R. N. Adams, end R. T. Wheeler, was then elected to draw up a constitution and,the rules, Those present were then invited to leave their names with the ohairinan 'or to'send thorn in and it-- was decided to insert', advertisements invifing persons not present at tho meeting to become.members. very enthusiastic meeting was brought .to a, close by' the niagiiig of a verse of the National Aithem.