GOOD FRIDAY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 11

GOOD FRIDAY.

TO THF, EDIT OS OT "THE PMSB." Sir, —The letter of "Churcliman" in Friday's issue of "Tho Press" expressed the (very thoughts which occurred to me when I read of the railway, excursions to Otira on Good Friday. Id fact, in my address on that day, T drew an illustration between the sacrifice commemorated on Good Friday and that on Anzac Day. I believe that Good Friday, which has always been regarded as the most sacred and solemn holy day of the Christian year by the vast majority of Christian people, should be kept in such manner as would best convey to a nation tho import of that day. The running ot railway excursions or the. holding cf metropolitan shows, as I believe is the case in Sydney, on Good Friday, is not in keeping with the spirit of the day, -and most certainly will in time degrade the day to a mere public holiday. Such excursions would not be tolerated oil Anzac Day while Anzac Dav lasts. It, therefore, seems to me that the running of these excursions on Good Friday by a Government Department is tantamount to saying that this day, GooJ Friday, is not worthy of the same consideration as Anzac Day.

To say that the Department must be made to pay is not a justifiable excuse, for the same excuse woidd hold for Anzac Day or any other day in the year. Government Departments, should, to my thinking, set the example to a nation and endeavouring to get others to follow suit. If righteousness exalteth, a nation, then the dav upon which Righteousness is brought e-o prominently before a people should strietly be upheld by the Government of that people. If railway excursions were run on Anzac Day' (if that were possible) I venture to say that the import of that day would soon be lost. In not nmny years hence, when Good Friday is popularised by railway excursions and shows, etc.. it will be said that- no protest was made on the part of the clergy and ministers of New Zealand. It may be too late then to stem the tide at its full. Therefore I think with "Churchman'' that an emphatic protest should be made by the Church while the thin end of the wedge is just in.—Yours, etc.. BE CONSISTENT. April 18tli.