SCENE IN CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1916, Page 6

SCENE IN CHURCH.

A SLUR OS NEVT ZEALAND'S SOLDIERS. , The recent incident in St. Andrew's Church, Hamilton, when Sergeant-Major Elliot Purdon rose to repudiate statements made from the pvilpit by the Ecv. A. Gow, in the course of a special sermon for humiliation, is the subject of a letter of explanation by the sergeantmajor. The preacher read extracts from an article in the Outlook, criticising the action of the New Zealand troops in Egypt. "The Rev. Gow made statements in regard to the main body which T know were absolutely contrary to fact,'' writes Sergeant-Major Purdon. "He stated that immediately the main body arrived in Cairo practically the whole of them plunged into dissipation and vice. I, as a member of the main body, could have done nothing else than what I did, and I felt I should have been a traitor and belrayer of my dear comrades, many of whom lie dead on the battlefield of Gallipoll, had I not done so. I had five months' sojourn in Cairo with the New Zealand forces, coming into daily contact with men of different branches of lite service, and a better-behaved, cleaner-living lot of men—with a few exceptions which proves the rule —I never met with, either in or out of the army, and I feel proud and glad to have been .associated with such men. The Rev. Row's hearers were absolutely stunned by the cruel statements. I think, instead of being humiliated by the conduct of the main body, rather we. should rejoice that, amidst the greatest of temptations—Cairo is indeed a cesspit of vice, hut an open one —our gallant lads acquitted themselves like the brave 'heroes they are and were."—Auckland Star.