S .Bit who are we to sit here today and after listening to what the Honourable
 SMember for Kingstown has.said, Agree to recognize Spiritual Baptists as a religious
 Body. Have we made any investigation, do we know whether they are a reputable
 S organisation? The only part of the Resolution we are asked'to agree to is an
S amendment which changes-the Motion, and only after-about ten minutes talk.by
 the Honourable Member for Kingstown, we are told that he intends to change
 the Motion.
 I would like to make it clear .that it is hot because, I do not think that this
 Body is a desirable Body, it is not because I am Bingg intolerant, but because I
 know nothing about them and because I have never been consulted in this Council-
 on such a question. -I do not know what investigations- are made before people
 are granted licences as Marriage Officers, therefore how can I, after listening to
 the Honourable Member's speech, say I agree to recognize this Body? I know
 nothing about them I would also like to. make it clear that by saying what I have
 said, I am not casting any aspersions on any organisation or on any religion, .but
 I want. it to be clearly-understood that the season I cannot agree to any recognition
 issiinply because I do not feel that I know enough about this-religious organisation
 to decide-whether it is suitable or not.
 The Governor and his Advisers have certain--channels through which such
 things can be investigated, and after investigation if they come to the conclusion
 that a certain body is suitable, it.is declared a religious qrganisation. In the case
 of this particular body if it is proved that it has lost some of its old taints-and has
 .purged itself, then perhaps it may be recognized. To-conclude, I hope and
 sincerely trust that it will never be said of me that I have subscribed to religious
 intolerance or suppression.
 Honourable-0. D. Brisbane : Your Honour, when I first read this Motion I
 was wondering what it was all about. It seemed to me that some volcano Was
 going to erupt.-
 I have now listened to the mover- of the Motion, and I can see nothing in the
 Motion to which I should give my support. No particular body has been named,
 nor has been refused a Marriage Licepce, and therefore the whole thing looks to
 me like confused business.
 The Honbut'able Member has given us a history of-Shakerism and told us that
 some other Sect has grown out of the Shakers.
 I just want to make one point clear. I have- nothing against any religious
 Body. I like to think- that people worship God, and worship Him in spirit and
 truth, and if it can be proved that a religious Body is doing this, then it will be
 assisting Government in bringing peace and prosperity to this Colony. If there
 is such a body called the Christian Pilgrims then.let them prove themselves. The
 istory of this body is tainted, but if the present'leaders are against the practices
 of their forerunners and do not intend to practise Shakerism, let them prove this.
 I would advise the Hbnourable Member to frame his Motion in a different-
 form and name a particular religious body, and then perhaps we will be able to
 give it some consideration.
 "" Perhaps this particular religious body could present a petition to Government
 Sfor-the grant of a Marriage Licence, then their claim could be investigated and the
 matter dealt with in the usual way.
 Honourable Member for North Windward : It is quite-true that this Council
 cannot give recognition nor can it recommend that recognition be given, but I am
 able to say that the mover of the Resolution intends to help to right certain things