CHURCH PARADES

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 5

CHURCH PARADES

THE SECTARIAN QUESTION MILITARY SYSTEM CRITICISED A MINISTER’S VIEWS. To-morrow a special church sendee has been arranged by the military authorities to take place at the Catholic Basilica for territorials of the Catholic denomination, and at the First Presbyterian Church for Protestant trainees. This arrangement is strongly criticised by the Rev J. Carlisle who during an inten’iew with a Times reporter yesterday said that it was distinctly unfair that Catholic trainees should receive privileges that were not granted to those of other churches. NOT OPPOSED TO PARADES. “I would like to make it clear,” said Mr Carlisle, “that I do not disapp. ive of the practice of holding of military church parades—l think they do good—but I have strong conscientious objections to the arrangements that have been made. The position is that unless a trainee other than a Catholic consents to attend the First Church in this parade, he will be given fatigue duties as though he was in camp. I have communicated with the authorities on the matter suggesting that ttainees, after marching from the Drill Hall, be allowed to break off and attend their own churches, and I would be perfectly willing to make suitable arrangements at my church to enable them to rejoin the parade, but the officer to whom I spoke said that it would ‘spoil the parade.’ ” “NOT A UNITED SERVICE.” “The parade,” added Mr Carlisle, “cannot be described as a united service as it was arranged between the Defence officer and the minister of one church and I object to the fact that under military rule Catholics are receiving rights that Protestant boys are not allowed. If my own boy was eligible for this parade I would not allow him to participate.”