“PERNICIOUS BELIEFS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 12

“PERNICIOUS BELIEFS”

REMARKABLE WILL NO RELIGIOUS CEREMONY Directions in the will of Mr. William James Caie, of Highbury’ House, Westgate Street, Bury’ St. Edmunds, England, and for 20 y’ears a member of the Town Council, state: I strictly forbid my body or ashes to be taken into any church, chapel, or other so-called place of worship whatsoever, and I also strictly forbid any so-called religious service to be said over my’ remains. I desire some simple form of Masonic service to be said over my ashes, but expressly forbid any parson, clergyman or minister to take part therein. I solemnly charge my wife, whom failing, my executors, to see to it that none of my children are ever confirmed according to the rites of the English Church under the age of 21 years, after which they (the children) can decide for himself or herself as to their religious views or procedure. lam profoundly convinced that the present-day religious beliefs and teaching and preaching are not only erroneous, and, in fact, pernicious, but a blasphemy upon the name of the Great Architect of the Universe, void of trust and calculated to lead children especially astray. I charge both my sons to become Freemasons when they attain the necessary age, to be initiated, if possible, in my Mother Lodge. Freemasonry is an incentive and valuable help to leading a clean, straight life, in accordance with the best dictates of conscience, and is the only system of morality worth having. I sincerely hope that no well-mean-ing but misguided individual will waste any time in praying for me as a lost soul, because I die perfectly happy as to my future, knowing that God is a loving, just and merciful Being, not a monster of vengeance, jealousy and pettiness, as the parsons portray Him to be. Testator left estate of the gross value of £6,377, with net personalty £4,183.