RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 260, 7 December 1914, Page 6

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.

To the Editor of THE SUN. . Sir,—l have before me a political dodger issued by the Bible-in-State-Schools League to the elect,ors of North Qhristehurch, urging, them' to vote, for Mr; .H.;i\ Toogood, because he thinks as ifTdbes, a'nd this dodger carries the name of the Rev-. John, Paterson, as general secretary. ' I wish particularly tip point out that this is klnfbst a stranger to Christchurchy 'without' a vote in any electorate, that he can know practically nothing of Mr Toogoou, and may not even be aware that the Tories had to rake New Zealand to find someone to. oppose Mr Isitt; yet he has the effrontery to ask us to vote for this man who swallowed his. B. in S. scheme after only 45 minutes' mastication.' . 1

Now, Sir,'l content!. : that the Rev. John Paterson, or any other member of the cloth, has any right in this enlightened age to dictate to us in this matter; What would be thought of a priest of the Roman Catholic Church who dared to sign such a paper? He would be' howled down as'an intolerant bigot. The facts are that Mr Isitt is too straight a'man ; to lend himself to this scheme; he is far-seeing enough to know that this referendum, without a teachers' conscieijce-elause, would cause religious strife all along the-line, and he will not barter away his conscience for the votes of the High Church Party or other denominations, who apparently are being- used as tools by it. The Rev. John Paterson, in his almost fanatical zeal to force this particular referendum, has practically joined in a compact with the liquor party, to defeat a man who for fdrty years has worked for social and moral reform, and the uplifting of humanity. Your leader of Saturday . ,on the Moderate League and the Prohibition Party says, i 1 The attitude of the prohibitionists hostile, tlrat attitude is intolerant and unreasonable, and akin to the furious zeal of the Red Fed. for Socialism. "■ Prohibition being purely a moral question, how much stronger '.should be your denunciation of>"the Religious Party who are responsible for 'tills- audacious mandate to the, electors of Christchurch North.—l am, etc., SHORTER CATECHISM.