MILITARY CHAPLAINS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 4

MILITARY CHAPLAINS.

ANGLICAN AND PRESBYTERIAN '.'". ; CO-OPERATION. ."■;;■' !_ At-tho meeting of the Anglican "General Synod at Nelson, on i'Vulay Archdeacon .harper (Wellington) .-moved:: "That 'it be a recommendation'to each diocesan synod: that a committee: bo -appointed, -. lo ' |j« called 'The Military' Aftuirs. Committee,' whoso- duty'W shall bo to ba 'ready'. to assist file bishop of the diocese in , all matters cpmiccteu with the Church's work in Territorial, camps and military ull'uirs generally." The Archdeacon said since' the- compulsory trailmig'clauses had come in it had been' felt that•' young men should not be ordered ' out at Eoster. The speaker had consulted, with the senior Presbyterian chaplain on the question, of the defenco authorities calling out young' men at the cost of sacrificing their : religious obligations. The Presbyterian chnplain said that his church had set up a special committeo. to deal with the mutter. If the Anglican Church did the same there would bo a very strong body to take action in the case of any undesirable practices, if they arose, and for the work of providing'suitable religious instruction for the men when called into camp;. The speaker said ho had not for somo timo past taken part in chaplaincy work, but he moved the motion at the request of the Presbyterian chaplain. ■ .

Canon Sedgwick (Christchurch) 6aid, in seconding the motion, that the Anglicans should co-operate heartily with tho Presbyterians. ■"■ .

Mr. C. J. Tunks (Auckland)' supported the motion. ' ■••'..

Canon Mac Murray (Auckland), endorsing the suggestion; said that only last week one Presbyterian minister had said in Auckland that the Anglicans were taking the Territorial movement into their own hands. He' denied this, and said that in Auckland none of the Anglican chaplains had usurped tho work of chaplains of other denominations. He was therefore glad that.the matter of co-oper-ating with tho Presbyterians was suggested. In tho old days the men elected their olficcrs, amongst which were the chaplains. Why, in Auckland, nearly all tho chaplains were Anglicans; was because they were in those days tho only ones who took a lively interest in the volunteer movement. Now however, the ministers of other denominations were feeling a desire to minister in tho office of chaplains. The selection of chaplains, however, was a very important matter, and he thought a clean sweep of the old hands (including himself) should be made, and tho defence authorities be asked that, as far as Anglicans are concerned, tho appointments bo given to younger men, wlio could 'perhaps get closer in touch with tho men.

Archdeacon Grace (Nelson) heartily supported tho motion moved by Al-ch-deneon Harper. ■ The resolution was carried without dissent.