SABBATH OBSERVANCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 3

SABBATH OBSERVANCE

M.P.'s ACTIONS DISCUSSED. RESOLUTION PASSED BY DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY. (« lEtEGnAfa— ansoiAii to 'iiib vast.) DUNEDIN, ' This Day. Sabbath observance was a matter dis^ cussed at the meeting of the Dttnedin Presbytery yesterday. The Rev. Mr. Kilpatrick, m introducing the subject, referred to the visit paid to Southland by a number of members of Parliament. A fine programme had been arranged for them >a to enable them to see the industries in the South and the extent of land in that part, but it was a programme that had no recognition whatever of the Sabbath Day. Arrangements had been made for the Sabbath Day just as for other days. The Presbytery was not a political body, and, ho hoped ) it never would be, as a Presbytery or as a Church ; but it was a religious body, and he was sui-ehe expressed the feelings of a. large section, of the community, both in- Otago and Southland, when he said that such conduct was an offence, and was not in the lino that one might expect to find members of Parliament pursuing. A great deal might be said on the matter, but it would only be saying what they were aJI agreed upon. He thought they ought to pass a resolution disapproving altogether of the conduct of these members of Parliament in not l'ecognising the sanctity of tho Sabbath Day while paying their visit to Otago and Southland. The Rev. Mr. Scorgie hoped that notice would be taken of the matter, in order to show that the Presbytery was neither intliffoi'ont nor blind to what was going on. The llev. Mi. "VVhyta confessed that he bud not followed the doings of these gentlemen who came from the North, and he was delighted to find that Mr. Kilpatrick had biought ths matter before the Presbytery. 'irie Moderator; I don't know exactly •what they di'!. The llev, Mr. Kilpatiidt said they Jiarf arranged long^ motor rules and meetings, and everything went on just as on wcplc days. t The Rev. Mr. Nlven : They received deputatidns on the Sabbath. The Rev. Mr. Pinlayson snid no one would havo known it was the Sabbath Day at all. It wafl ros>olv«d : "That the Presbytery ijegret ihut, so far as appears from the faports in i\\v press, the members of Parliament who recently visited Otago in ctivi'yinti out their programme of travel ignored the sanctity of "the Lord's Day, pud thereby 3efc an example be/ore the community which becomes ail the more baneful because of the exalted position which iboy occupy." ,