PROTESTANT FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 4 October 1917, Page 31

PROTESTANT FEDERATION

A VICE-PRESIDENT'S REASONS FOR RESIGNING. We extract the following from The Age (Melbourne) of recent date : Mr. Eric S. L. Murray, of Ballarat, one of the vice-presidents of the Protestant Federation, has tendered his resignation. In a letter received by Mr. C. D. Ross, secretary of the Federation, on Wednesday, Mr. Murray, who has been associated with the softgoods trade in Flinders Lane for many years, says:—"l regret very much to resign my position as one of the vicepresidents of the Protestant Federation. The fact is I will be no party to vile attacks on the members of other creeds, such as have been going on since the great movement began. . . . Surely the new movement has better ambitions than to engage in vilifying the Roman Catholic Church. . . . Because we outnumber them in Australia is no reason why Protestant Federation parsons should try to stir up sectarian bitterness and strife. It is not enough for some people that our Empire is involved in the greatest war of all time; it is not enough that Australia is in the throes of internal strike trouble; ■ but, like disloyal persons, they use the Protestant Federation platform to abuse our fellow subjects of the Kingthousands of them at this moment under the Union Jack fighting for liberty and justice for all nations. I just remember reading about the Irish priest in Flanders. He had been asked to speak to the Irish prisoners in the Kaiser's interests. After service he turned to them and said: 'Boys, I have been asked to speak to you to' fight for Germany; but, in the name of God, I beseech you to be true to your own King, your own flag.' I absolutely decline to be associated in the Protestant Federation with those who, in my opinion, are hindering recruiting and playing into the hands of our enemies. Their speeches and sermons should be severely censored, and they should be interned as dangerous firebrands." . , ; Mr. Murray, who is associated with literary and debating societies in Ballarat, is of Scotch nationality, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.