DR. E. G. LEVINGE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19786, 26 November 1929, Page 10

DR. E. G. LEVINGE.

TRIBUTE BY THE REV. W. J. WILLIAMS. TO THE BDiTOB OF TBS PRSSS. Six, —Kindly allow me to pay a small tribute of respect to the memory of Dr. Levinge. Some of your readers may remember that a few years ago, in the correspondence columns ot The Press there was a iomewhat prolonged and vigorous clash of swords between Dr. Levinge and myself, over the interminable liquor question. We both held strong convictions on the subject, and such convictions ouly too easily find expression in strong language. After what proved to be the last of these encounters, the doctor wrote to me a private letter. He was good enough to •peak in kindly terms of my quality as a fighter, only regretting that it was employed on the other tide. As we had never met, to his knowledge, he could hardly think it likely that the strength of my opposition to his views was inspired by any personal animus. He also hoped that it would be possible for dc to (rive credit for good motives and intentions to those with whose views on the liquor question my own views were in conflict. I was glad to be able to reply in the same spirit of friendly approach. Personal animus was out of the question, on the ground which he himself had stated, and I endeavoured always, wherever possible, to believe that the object aimed at by those opposed to me was in their intention as praiseworthy as my own. Dr. Levinge and I never met in person, and I don't suppose for a moment that his views on liquor changed any more than mine have done. But now that he has gone, it will always be a pleasure to dc to remember that widely divergent as our views may have continued to be on this gr*at question, it rested, as a result of that private correspondence, on the basis of a mutual understanding and respect.—Yours f-tc W. J. WILLIAMS. ' J»oyemb«r 25th, 182».