SANG “RED FLAG.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 752, 4 May 1933, Page 6

SANG “RED FLAG.”

Explanation Given by Rev J. K. Archer. IDEA OF SELF-SACRIFICE. Many people in the crowd standing in front of the election display board last night were surprised to see the 1 Rev J. K. Archer, who was DeputyMayor in the last council, join in singing “ The Red Flag ” as he stood above i the portico of the Municipal Chambers, j The song was begun by a small group ! among the crowd after Mr Archer had thanked electors for again returning him at the top of the poll. As the j volume swelled, Mr Archer waved his ; handkerchief, beating time, and, after a little, he joined in the singing. “Of course I sang the song!” was Mr Archer’s emphatic reply, when apj preached bv r reporter later in the : night. “ As a matter of fact, there is no | song so misunderstood as ‘ The Red Flag,’ ” he continued. “ The average : man regards it as revolutionary, in the ' iense that it savours of slaughter and ! Bolshevism. “ On the contrary, the idea permeat i ing the song is that of self-sacrifice, ; even to the point of martyrdom,” coni tinued Mr Archer. “ Were it not for its association with groups of people of j destructive tendencies, ‘ The Red Flag ' j would be as much admired as some of j the great Christian hymns. It is a ] pity that people do not substitute a knowledge of the song for ignorance and prejudice.” Mr Archer said he regarded “ The Red Flag ” as a most wonderful song. Most of its critics had never seen it in print. It was not the first occasion on which he had sung it publicly.