OLD CONTEMPTIBLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 109, 10 May 1934, Page 6

OLD CONTEMPTIBLES

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION CONSECRATION OF FLAG PRESBYTERIAN CRITICISM. [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, May 9. Exception has been taken by Auckland Presbyterians to the manner of the consecration of the colour and flag of the New Zealand branch of the Old Contemptibles’ Association last month, and also to the design of the windows for the war memorial shrine in the Museum.

At a meeting of the Presbytery last night. Mr. F. W. Matthews said that the flag was a national one, and the consecration ceremony should have been in the Town Hall. Their proper place was in the Hall of Memories in the War Memorial Museum, and not in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. “The calm assumptions of our Anglican brethren seem to pass without efficient protest.” he said, “and by our apparent acceptance of them we seem to

acquiesce/’ x The clerk (Rev. A. M. Elliffe> referred to the report that in the design for the windows for the War Memorial Shrine, shields were shown representing the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. Referring to the consecration of the flag, the Rev. Lawson Marsh said that thev ought all to have been more alive tr. the situation, but they must recognise that the thing had been done. The Rev. T. E. Bartram: “When things are done in a corner they should be pulled out into the light.”

Rev. Marsh moved that the Public Questions Committee consider whether a private letter should not be addressed expressing regret at what had been dore, and that the Presbyterian Church had not been represented. The memorial windows should also be considered. The Rev. W. J. Comrie said that he did not favour the letter being private. Mr. Marsh withdrew the word private, and the motion was carried.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. j I»/>r Fre*? .’.f so oration. 1 AUCKLAND. May 9. “If we did not accept the good intentions of members of the Auckland Presbytery, we should probably accuse them of being impertinent,” said Mr. S. McDonald, secretary of the New Zealand branch of the Old Contemptibles ’ Association, in replying to the zriticism regarding the consecration of the colours and flag of the branch. ‘The Anglicans in Auckland, as a >ody, had nothing to do with the proposal to hold the consecration cerenony, and to deposit the consecrated jolours in the Anglican Church. The proposal came entirely from my association. The motion dealing with the points under criticism was actually moved by a former soldier of the Gordon Highlanders, himself a member of rhe Presbyterian Church. Our president is a Roman Catholic, and had to obtain special permission from his bishop to attend the ceremony when it was held.” Mr. McDonald said the organisation was not a New Zealand one. As former members of the British Army they held that the ceremony should be conducted in the church which is the national established church of England