RACE TRAINS AND CHURCHES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 6

RACE TRAINS AND CHURCHES

Sir,—la to-day's issue you print a resolution carried by tlio Taranani Street Methodise Church congregation aguiust extra race trains beiiiy run. In suppurc of this resolution the reason is advaauuu that race meetings are incompatible with the fact that "our boys" are enduring untold hardship and self-sacrifice on our behalf. Granted. But will the officials of this congregation explain the apparent inconipatability between the same fact and their recently providing their minister with a motor-car for his sole use at a time when "our boys"—many of them their' own junior church members —arc suffering untold hardship and selfsacrmce on their behalf. Surely the value of the car would have been more woTthily devoted to assist in providing comfort for "our boys," and the menus of transit previously provided for their, minister made to suffice till normal con•ditions prevail. "Anghcanus," in your same issue, quotes the Kev. Dr. W. B. Selby as sayin"- that the churches' chief trouble is their selfishness, and the selfishness of the parsons tncmselves; and such actions as tho above compel one to endorse the charge. • So long as they display such inconsistency their protests against public evils are not likely to carry much weight. As a Methodist of many years standing, and a member of an old Methodise family—not to mention a Member of that congregation—l leave you to iud"e with what feelings of humiliation I feel compelled to make this public protest against the inconsistency of a church which will on the one hand protest against what they consider, perhaps rightly, a public luxury—and on the other provide their minister and themselves indirectly, with an equal if rot greater luxury, that could well be donewithout. I noticed recently tne ot your correspondents suggested this as a case for the investigation of the £tticiency Board, and it would certainly seem so.-I am, etc.,

July 10, 1917.