CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CADET CHURCH PARADE. TO THE EDITOft OF "THE THESS." Sir, —I was much surprised ou reading your report this morning at the remarks made by Colonel V. S. Sinythe, 0.C.D., to tho Cadots on Church parade yesterday. Now. Sir, it was given out in the schools,that it was optional whether the lads attended parade or not, and on my son putting the question, "Snail I go to parade or Bible Class?" I at onoe said that as it was optional, and not held during usual Church hours, I should prefer ho attended the latter, pointing out to him that tho gentlemen who conducted these classes, Sunday after Sunday, did so at a great personal sacrifice, besides putting a lot of time into study on their behalf, and were trying to make fine men and good citizens of them. Aβ a matter of fact, the essay that was discussed yesterday after lessons was "What constitutes a gentleman?" and in looking over my son's notes, I find, "'Honour your parents, protect your weaker companions, 'make a firm stand between right and wrong," and that the more they tried to imitate the great ■vhito lifo the nearer they cam© to being gentlemen. There was, I beiteve, only two out of this class m parade, yet Colonel Smvthe calls all he others shirkers, and . asks those 'ads he addresses to treat them as such. Those lads who did attend parade are probably all good, worthy fellows, but is to being the best boys in the Christdiureh Cadets, as Colour 1 Smythe asserts, we won't concede that they arc one iota better thau hundreds who did not attend parade. Wo have at all times heartily encouraged the cadet Tiovement, but I take great exception ; o Colonel Smythe's remarks, also to ; giving those who attended the credit ! >f a half-day parade, while seemingly penalising all the other lads who did ; not or, "in some instances," could not J attend.—Yours, etc., ' ; INDIGNANT MOTHER. I May 25th.