MR S. G. GRIFFITH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 6

MR S. G. GRIFFITH

HONOURED BY FRIENDS AND P.P.A. HIS ELECTION MISSION. A largo audience assembled at the Early Settlers’ Hall last evening, on thq occasion of a presentation to Mr S. G. Griffith, who is relinquishing the office of president of the Protestant Political Association to take up the work of organiser and lecturer for that body. Tho Rev. G. Woolenough presided, and the meeting opened and closed with a verso of tho National Anthem. The Chairman expressed appreciation of the work done by Mr Griffith. Ho had always found him a strong, fearless exponent of tho principles of the association, both in his private and public life. He ranked as one of tho strong men of the dominion in thoir cause, anu his place would be exceedingly hard to fill.—(Applause.) They in Dunedin regretted his severance from -tho local branch, but the audience would he pleased in know that Mr Griffith would not bo lost to tho dominion. Ho would be still in tire battle for God, for country, and for clean politics. The chairman was pleased and proud to associate himself with the good work being done by Mr Griffith. Dr Mindo said he was delighted to bo associated with Mr Griffith and the good work ho was engaged in. Mr Griffith had been one of tho pioneers in tho work—one of those men who had done a deal of the spade work in the early stages of ’the association, which had made wonderful progress since if. was established. At present there was a great call for men of tho stamp of Mr Griffith, because there was ever present tho menace which was always endeavouring to filch from tho Protestants those principles which their forefathers had fought and died to obtain, and which had made the British Empire what it was to-day. Their' worthy brother was one of the stalwarts in the fight to achieve that which was right and noble. The association always fought for free speech, free pulpit, and free press. No one in the South Island was more capable than Mr Griffith to expound these principles, and he wished him every success and best wishes in his new office.

The Eev. Howard Elliott intimated that Mr Griffith had been appointed to the assistant lectureship of the P.P.A. in the South Island. The speaker devoted a considerable portion of his remarks to tho aims and objects of the association, and incidents in connection therewith. Ho paid a high tribute to Mr Griffith for the vast amount of work he had done for the Association. The affairs in the Otago Division, over which Mr Griffith presided, had always been managed in a thorough, businesslike manner, and were a credit to the branch. The speaker claimed that in Dunedin alone tho association influenced 6000 votes, and at least 20,000 votes in South Otago.—(Applause.) Mr Griffith had played a large part in attaining this very gratifying result. The. association was always ready to hurl itself against those dens of injustice which were countenanced by- the Church of Rome, and it \vould_ never rest until these were open to public scrutiny. Mr Griffith had not escaped adverse criticism. Mo true man should bother about tittletattle criticism, because no man in a public position would escape from this. The man should do his job fearlessly and let the result speak for itself. The speaker was grateful and thankful to the strong-minded and broad attitude adopted by the Church of •which Mr Griffith was pastor, and on behalf of the Dominion Executive and tho Dunedin Executive of the association he sincerely thanked them for this true Christian spirit. In a fortnight’s time Mr Griffith would take up his new work, and up to election time he would be located in the 'Wakatipn, Clutha, and tlie Dunedin districts, and the best interests of the association would be conserved by 'Mr Griffith in this work. Mr Elliott enumerated the na and districts of the ’ organisers of the association in Mew Zealand. These embraced nearly every part of the dominion, and as he had already indicated, the influence exerted in this part of the dominion, the power the association would exert at election time over the whole of Moiy Zealand, could be easily conceived. He claimed without hesitation that the members ■were connected with the biggest and bestorganised association in how Zealand, and tho influence of that association would always stand for right. The political fight was now on, and a pretty stiff fight it would he The Liberal Party, whicii hud come into favour and been held together thrfeugh the assistance of Rome, had boon shattered, and was now in its dying throes. The Protestants were deserting the party on account of its association with Romanists. Ho also said that tho Roman Church was in league with tho Red Labour Party. These parties, instigated by the Romish Church, could plot and plan as they pleased, but if the Protestants remained loyal to their principle's no one need feel tho result. Mr Elliott presented to Mr Griffith a cheque for a substantial amount, with the request that he employ it in any way he might desire. It carried with if a fervent appreciation of Mr Griffith’s work, and the good wishes and highest and kindest regards from those connected with the association—(Loud applause.) , On rising to reply, Mr Griffith received a very cordial greeting. Ho said his association with the P.P.A. dated back very nearly to the time of its birth in Dunedin Boven 8 oven years ago. AVhen. first he heard of the movement, he was like many others, disposed to belittle the numerous discreet,table rumours circulated of the P.P.A. and its originator, the Rev. Howard Elliott. TJn]iko some others though, lie governed his ultimate decision by a precept of tho Good Book to “Prove all tilings and hold fast that which is good.” Applying this principle it did not take him long to discover that the P.P.A, was not only good but quite necessary. Never willing to enjoy tho fruit of otheraTabour without contributing to the extent of his ability, he threw in his lot • with the workers of the movement, and ehoirtiv after he was honoured in being asked to take the presidency for Otago. During the years that had passed he had never been unwilling to give place to a better man, of whom there were many, but he could say in all sincerity that he had never failed to do his best in all good conscience. _ The association appealed to him in its fairness. Ho was :a Britisher who had lived for years in another English-speaking country, and he bad. known something of many nations, but he believed that no people on earth had so high a sense of justice as that over which their banner waved. The P.P.A. stood for “equal rights to all, including Roman Catholics, and special privileges to none—not even Protestants,” If ho had seen one wrong done or attempted to their Romish fellow-citizens, ho would never have stood for it. Coolly weighing the case for and against, ho was compelled to conclude that here in Mow Zealand the Roman Catholic minority was over-riding the Protestant majority. This they had found possible through organising for political purposes. Ho did not blame them for doing so. It was only human nature. The blame lay not with the Romanists, but with the Protestants. They had the power at the ballot box, and with the power the obligation to shape the country along the lines of British justice. But they were asleep until tho Rev. Howard Elliott began to shako them up, and gradually they had been opening their eyes, and some of them to rise up and declare for equality for all. There remained very much still to be done. Smno weak creatures calling themselves Protestant, hut having nothing alun to the martyrs who had tiled for the precious faith, were -still frightened by the bogey of religious strife. The P.P.A. did not touch religion. They were agreed to differ from Romo on iho spiritual side. With that Church as a religious factor the P.P.A. has noth.ng to do. Had they all the power, they have nothing of the will to place, one hindrance in tho path of any sect in the observance of that which was conceived to be God's will. There was nothing sectarian or bitter about them. They desired to live and let live, buv they were, determined to live with -equal shares no more —of the good things that were going. For'years his duties in the P.P.A. had been assuming larger and larger proportions. He hadl decided now that from November 6 until after tho elections at least, he would devote the whole of his time to the work. As to whether he would, continue longer or not that would depend on several considerations, ,among them, how the people paid up. He feared he might lie a rather expensive luxury. Still, ho knew that Mr Elliott could not cover all the ground. It was physically impossible to do so, and neither could they expect men to leave their business or professions to do the work without pay. They would need someone, and perliaps ho would do. He was going to need the help of all. The work was not his, it was theirs and lus. Let them push it forward—for God, and home and native land. A musical programme was submitted, the following contributing.—Mies WilkinS*n, Master Scurr, Miss Denford, Misses Knowles, Miss MacMiell, and Mr Bradley, and along with the chairman were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. —' — i=sl -—■ — g