AGNOSTIC CLERGTMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 15

AGNOSTIC CLERGTMAN.

STRANGE I.ETTEB TCBXCKBK BX-: *TSUICIDE. The-letter which was found In the- t>*jW room where the Rev. Henry Charles Laiigj vicar of AH Saints' Church, Southen(l-on» Sea, iras discovered dead on Tuesday motiv- ■ ing, December 21, with a. bottle of prnssltt acid near Ms bed was read at the coroner's inquest yesterday. The rev. gentleman haS been notable for ritualistic practices. The letter was commenced to bis wife. It commenced, the coroner said, "The ariljs way; I had hoped to have found otheri?' Then followed six lines In Letin, an ft "Farewell, farewell, farewell." The lettet continued:— "Bo not Inquire any more. Too will think mc mad, but I am not; I cauaot make that excuse. Do not think that it vm religion. X have taught outwardly, but far some time past have not really believed. I find two principles—science and religion. The Bevela-" tion (so called) is co variously understood— it is mostly hypocrisy—a. thine -which a malt of no creed really acts up to. Science on* '< can understand, and the' assertions of reii* gion are not borne ont by scientific facts. 1 am an Agnostic; that is, I do not believe: » the possibility of the Deity existing, except :as the great creative principle or first cause. But all the elaborate doctrines of inetfs re> eovery seem to be out of harmony wrfh the dealing with the rest of the organised life of the universe. "Do not mourn for mc. Too are all I cared for, and you are better off than mc. I am not worthy to come near yon. I do not think I can say lam mad. I am not a coward. lam just going to take the step, and my hand is steady except for the coidl In spite of'you and other things 1 find lirainsupportable. Forgive. You have been th» only light in my life. How unworthy I am of you.—Henry-." The jury returned a. verdict of enidde, ani> added there was no evidence as to the state of the deceased's mind.