PLAYED GOLF ON SUNDAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 47, 18 November 1937, Page 3

PLAYED GOLF ON SUNDAY

-Presa Assoeiation ) ,

Methodists Criticise the ! Governor-General "CHRISTIAN OPINION FLOUTED"

(By Telegrapb-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night,' The Governor-General, Yiscount Galway, was outspokenly criticised at the North Canterbury Methodist Synod this afternoon for "participating in a golf tournament" on a recent Sunday. . After a discussion in which severat members expressed strong views on the mattqr and the Synod refused to amend . the motion (proposed by Rev. W. A. Burley) to xefer to "those in authorjity" instead of specifically to the Gov-ernor-General, the f'ollowing resolution 'was passed unanimously: This Synod records its convic- ' t-ion that Sunday is a day primarily i for spiritual refreshment through | Christian fellowship. It deplores the present tendency to use the ' Lord's Day for amusement pur- I poses and it is grieved to know that on a recent Sunday his Exeellency ' the Governor-General countenanced this misuse by participatiug in a golf tournament. Wa urge all our Methodist people to use Sunday for the culture of the spiritual and to remember it is the Lord's Day. "I think we have a right to criticise the action of the representative of the King when he flouts Christian opinion by opening a golf course on Sunday. We cannot compel everyone to observe Sunday, but we expect the GovernorGeneral to set an example," Mr. Burley said. A member said that it was not the opening of a golf course but a Beturned Soldiers'' Assoeiation tournament. "I don't see much difference between going into tho country and going after a little white ball and going out mdtoring and taking the children for an outing," said Rev. H. L. Blamires, adding that there was a difference when contests were held and that he was deeply grieved to see his Exeellency countenancing the matter by taking part. - Mr. H. M. Hamilton: It may be that the Governor-General will have logicai reasons and before a great body oi Methodists like this denounces him hi should be asked for an explanation. Rev. H. Ryan (district secretary] said that the King could not be imag ined doing such a thing iu England and fhat it would not be out of place xespectfully to xemind the GovernorGeneral that he was the representative of tho King and ought not to do so. Mr. Blamires said that tho tournas ment was a private party. ' .The chairman (Rev. Clarence Eaton)' then advocated reconsideration of the rwording of the motion, saying - that •there were fellow Christians who did |not Tegard golf on Sunday as harmful. - member: Do you call them Ohrisjtians, Mr. Chairman 1 ! Yes, we have to be charitable and 'broadminded. The chairman 's suggestion, was not .accepted.