THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE BLIND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1892, Page 4

THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE BLIND.

(To the Editor,) SiR,-Poseibly no biped in God's vast creation more than myself is tempted to write. To the omnipresent and seductive siren I have constantly to say, " Get thee behind me. Satan." Now that I have fled the city and am leading a bucolic lite, 1C appears desirable my scribbling: ehou.d ceaso; but Nemesis pursues, and 1 am compelled to enter the arena. Mr McGinn's letter would pass unnoticed were it not for false eUtementeandinsinuations with which his production abounds. I never told him that we had a reserve, and cannot divine what he means by the statement. Aβ to the charges against Mr Tighe I know nothing whatever, but shall in my own case neither dissemble nor cloke my ains, but make full and frank confea- " (all had the wickedness and presumption voluntarily to set on foot a subscription for tho blind. , _ (6) In carrying out this project I was pierced by cold, drenched with rain, scorched by sun, wrought day and nignt aud Sundays, used tongue, pen and brain, the energies of body and mind, gave time, influence, coin, tho use of horsee and carriages. Poor might be the «urn total, bub all were first fruits. Having travelled as much as 60 miles for 20s, have been can catured, belied, ridiculed, and misrepresented. In consequence of these efforts, and in spite of my persecutors, the crusade was crowned with euccese. (c) When the fulness of time came I convened a public meeting, and although every day's labour was reported in tho press, I gavo a full account of my stewardship. If on this auspicious occasion the eye of my mind was dazzled with the brillionce of an apocalypse so great that I saw the wholesale healing of the broken in heart and simultaneous binding up of their wounds, if in thii spectacle the colours were too roseate and tho picture too bright, the sin must be laid at the door of my fervid iinogidation. (d) At this meeting, a committee or gentlemen, one of the moat representative and influential possible, waa immediately formed. (c) This Council thereafter drafted a constitution, which wae carefully perused by the whole of tho membors, and afterwards presented to a public meeting for criticism and adoption. (/) By the articles of this constitution it ie absolutely impossible to atfbrd aid to many deserving parties, of whom the cases alluded to by your correspondent form an accurate type. (g) With a knowledge of thi« fact and an earnest desire to furnish help in analogous capes, I have again and again subscribed liberally, and collected donations for the specific purpose of carrying the bow of sympathy over tho red-tape wall. Some of these canes are duly recorded in the minutes of the Blind Institute, though to this day there are others which I have 3uccoured, my left bund not knowing what my right hand hns done. In conclusion, the case cited by Mr McGinn accentuates the necessity of making prompt provision, not only for the young, but also for the aged and intirra, who in tho order of God's providence, have been afflicted with the awful calamity of blindness, experiencing a " total eclipse without all hope of day," and I urgently appeal to the hearts and conscience* of hundreds and thousands in this colony, who experience the myiiads of blessings and joys daily realised "by the exercise of the primordial sense, and who, in addition to those multifarious charms are endowed (as stewards) with a large proportion of this world* goods. If on our present institution could be grafted a branch to deal with these cases, and also with the deaf and dumb, I should feel it to be a privilege to giro my mite, and will endeavour with what remains since my late Bub-marine exploration to prese my waning energies into this glorious service, feeling assured that around me will rally every man and woman, in whoso heart there exists the heavenlit flame of sympathy and lovo. Full well I know their name is legion.—l am, etc., Jno. Abbott. Hurstmere, 25bh January, 1892.