AN UNFOUNDED ATTACK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 7

AN UNFOUNDED ATTACK.

AND AN APOLOGY. Mr. A. R. Atkinson presided at a meeting of the National Schools Defence League held'yesterday. The chairman said that encouraging reports had been received from all the chief branches, aiid that there was a consensus of opinion that the,movement had grown so largo and active that the appointment of an organiser to take control was imperative. 'l'he secretary was instructed ttf communicate with branches of tho league with a view to taking action, in the direction indicated. A letter was-read from tho organising secretary of tho Bible-in-Schools League in reply to tho protest of tho executivo against the statement mado bv the Itev. P. W. Clarkson, at Ellerslie: "That Mrs. Atkinsori, of Wellington, when one of » deputation to the Prime Minister, told a deliberate lie knowing it to bo so, in representing that the whole of the W.C.T.U. was against the proposals of the Bible-in-Schools 'League when only threo out of nineteen ■ branches were against it." Canon Garland's letter stated that after tho inquiry into tho facts tho writer found "that the recital of them in your resolution ■is substantially correct as to what actually occurred." Tho lotter proceeded as follows:— "In justice,howovor, to tho lecturer, it is fair to state that -he never intended to reflect upon tho lady personally, of whom he writes to me in terms of. great respect. Although devoid of such personal intention, the words in my judgment as used do reflect upon tho lady's voracity. I theroforc ( in tho namo of the Executivo of this League, unreservedly express our disapprobation of such a-charge; our ontiro, and sincere regret that anyoite advocating our cause should havo made, however unintentionally, such & statement; and hereby tender a full apology to tho lady whoso namo was therein mentioned. I have taken steps to have this apology made known in as full a manner as possible in tho place in ' which the lecturer made his state; ment, and I am also requesting him to address to_ tho lady personally the regret which ho has expressed to me for tho annoyance sho has been caused." Mrs. Atkinson expressed her appreciation of Canon Garland's lotter, and the hope that he would also take similar steps in ony other places besides Ellerslie, where Mr. Clarkson may have repeated his statement. •It was resolved: "That tho organising secretary of tho Bible-in-Schools League be thanked for his letter,_ and for_ tho unreserved expression of his executive's disapprobation of tho charge in question and for their full apology therefor; this executive fails, however, to see that • achargo of deliberate lying cannot have been 'intended'to reflect upon tho lady personally,' or is compatible with tho great respect' professed by the accuser, or can have been made 'unintentionally,' but accepts tho letter db an assurance that tho lecturers of tho Bible-in-Schools League will in future be instructed to express their respect • for its opponents in a less unconveni tional fashion."