TEMPTATIONS OF CAIRO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 2, 5 April 1916, Page 7

TEMPTATIONS OF CAIRO.

NEW ZEALANDERS DEFENDED. A CHAPLAIN’S TESTIMONY. During an address on Anzac, at the Hamilton Town Hall, before a packed house on Friday nighty Chaplain-Cap-tain Blamires made reference to the article published in the “Outlook,” in which the men of the New Zealand Main Body were villified as having rushed straight into vice on arrival in Cairo. 4 The article was the same as was read by the Rev. A. Gow, Presbyterian minister of Hamilton, on a recent Sunday when Sergeant-Major Purdon (a returned contingenter), rose in church and protested against the manner of the reverend gentleman’s references, and his acceptance of the accusations contained in the article as facts. Chaplain-Captain Blamires gave the article, the lie direct, and said he could unhestitatingly say that not one fifth of the men of the Main Body fell victims to the temptations which beset them. There were in the ranks, he said, men of criminal tendencies, who would have followed criminal careers wherever they were; while there were others easy-going and curious to know what life in an eastern city was like. There were still others who were naturally weak, but of all these > the majority—the very great majority—withstood the trial with great courage and nobility of soul and mind, and the overwhelming majority of the troops were nobler, cleaner, and purer men as the result. The speaker’s remarks were greeted by loud and prolonged applause. Chaplain-Captain Blamires also during his address characterised the statement in the “Outlook** as a damnable lie.

MR GOW’S DECISION. A LETTER TO TOWN CLERK. The Rev. Alexander Gow has now intimated his intention not to take part in the Anzac Day celebrations. In a letter to the Town Clerk he states “Dear Sir y —The Mayor’s kind invitation to be present on Thursday to arrange for a ceremony on Anzac Day is impossible for me to accept, owing to the altogether mistaken attack that has been made on me. Under the circumstances I find it impossible to take any part in the proceedings. lam exceedingly sony, but after due consideration I think this the only wise and proper course, I can assure his Worship that the idea of attacking our men was far from my thoughts. My statement in the paper has been backed up by those who are in the true spiritual state to judge such a service and such utterances. I spake thus which would lead our Empire to its true victory, and prevent the slaughter of so many of our brave men. I was forced to read several letters from Y.M.C.A. workers and' others at the front to my session, the only Court which has the right to sit in judgment

on me, which letters I have decided to withhold from publication, my sense of the fitness of things and the Grace of God preventing me. 1 rather choose to suffer, wishing you a day of solemnity and heart-searching.—Yours faithfully Alexander Gow.”