TWO VIEWS ON ANZAC DAY SERVICE

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 4

TWO VIEWS ON ANZAC DAY SERVICE

-Press Association

RELIGIOUS PORTION SAID TO BE DESIRED

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, July 29. A Rtatement coucerning the Auckland R.S.A. and Anzac Day services was made today on behalf of the National Council of Churehes by Revs. D. .Spence aiul M. Underhill. In this they referred to the published statement made by Mr. A. 1'. Postlewaite, presideiit of the Auckland R.S.A. "We would like to point out," they said, ' 1 that recently a Roman Catholic delegation called on the Dominion executive oi' the R.S.A., requesting that Anzae Day services slioujd be of a eivic ratlier than of a religious nature. Following this the delegation of the National Council of Churehes asked two of us to approacli the Dominion executive and put the otlier side at its request. We attended a further meeting at which two Roman Catholic representatives were present and a report of this joint meeting, summarising the two points of view, is as follows:- — "Roman Catholics appreciated the deep religious significanee of Anzac Day -ahd" wished to be present1,. at .its official observance. However, /their church forbade them.- to ■,'pafUcdpate iin anv service wlien' kefergynieh of! &h.j other denomination took part. An address could be given out, not by a clergyman, even a returned chaplain, and it" the service was taken by a layman it could not inelude prayers or any reading from the Bible. The Roman Catholics would like the form of service used in Auckland and Te Awamutu to be universal. This form of service consisted of hymns, laying of wreaths, the words of Laurence Binyon, and the p laying of the Last Post and Reveille. They advoeated religious services being held by denominations m their own churehes earlier in the day." The statement added tliat the National Council of Churehes would weleome the presence of Roman Catholics. It considered Anzac Day services had nearlv alwavs been undenominational. Many loyal church members felt Anzae Day was one occasion when the different cliurches could and should woi'sliip together, despite ' doetrinal difference. "The Auckland Anzac t)ay service, we uiiderstand, has no reading from the Bible, no prayers and no participation bv the clergy, " it was stated. "We maintain sitcli a service is not religious. Also, to the vast majority of New Zealanders the word religion means' Christian. To tliem Christianity represents spoken prayers and the reading of the Bible. led by a Christian minister. Accordingly we disagree With Mr. Postlewaite 's opinion of what constitutes a religious service. We feel if the recent resolution of the R.S.A. ih regard to Anzae Day services nlefths the elimination of the religious part, this will be against the wishes of most of the people in New Zealhnd. "