LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1316, 20 December 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

I run loss of the elingamite. Sir-1 wi-h l.n give thanks In all un-friends-who have helped me lo Mil from I iv-el!" Ihe shadow left upon me bv the judgment of I lie Marine Court if Ini|i'iry iuln Ihe Fliiignmile wreck long villi-' ago. I have always believed mv-M-ll' iniineeiil ol" Ihe charge- ol" earele-s iiiiugii'i.-iii ."lid iii'gligi'iK'o brnii'jht Hi.;,il,-I me. -Mid I lake file libel'lv In Ihilll, I lilt I he," »-|,n know I lid not allribiilr (he -ad | ( —■ of lite to anv luck ol preeauti n my purl, bill Ihe t'ourl's liiidiiig ili.l make mi- feel a enmlemned man in I lie eye- nf Ihe public. The ennui inquiry, mi i!„' eviilence of II 11l llli-l.llil. in Ihe eharling n! Ihe Tliive him', and nlher pari-, has lalieu li-iini tii.v iiiiiim the lilm-li mark which a verI dol I iigaiii-l il.and for Ibis elear'Hi"; I Mill happy Iu «uy Dial I mve lo I I Mend, a deb! beinml mv power ~l" |ii.wiii-iil, I may ; |nrinlly iMeiilioi, Cap. HUH Will-mi l-iirelaiy „f lh,, Merchiiiil Sei-vha. Guild), Mi„| Mr, T, ,\l. Will'urd. «lin «i.||...rl veil ( rgelieally ni, nil '"■biill. I :il-n litaiililr Ihalik Ihe press foe a-. i-.lMln-e.- I al le., li. 11. ATWOOI). Hecelllber 11, mil. THE METHODS OF ARCHDEACON HAIIPEH. Sir.-- In the opinion nf some men in Hie street. Archdeacon Harper deserve- a slerii rebuke I'gr 11it■; uncharitable terms u-"il by him Inwards tire leaders of the Xn-l.ieen-e narty in (he icront eauipuign. In his seiiiini|, as repnrled bv you nn Monday. December I, he say'., "Ihe Ics-uil lie sought lo tench was thai tlll-re was much need in Ihe world 10-di'iv id" Clirisl as a rest ni in in:; force," Anil (hen he forthwith deliberately charges a body ni" nut- host citizens, who are working -iilely lor the uplilling of the weak Olid fallen, and, what i- of more importance, (he removal of the cause, I lint will before the next election cause degradation, sin, and death lo many hundreds ol our people. He charges I hem wilh untruths, slander,-, malice, bitterness, etc., and when a-ked to prove his statements or honourably withdraw, he, who describes himself "us a priest of the Church," docs neither. If In the "man in the street" (his isChristianity, no wonder he is repelled iii.-fead of nltraded by. it. One man iu the street, addressing another during the election with the onery, "I don't suppose you II strike out.the top liner" was met with the ready response, "That's all right, and I wi.sh that all the clergy would do the same." Then came (his scorching reply: "The inconsistency of you Christians make me worse and worse every day. I'm an Atheist. Looking around me day by day even 1 continually see men and women drugged down by drink, yet when on opportunity is given to vote it out, your Christians and your clergy oppose il, and even direct their people lo vole against (he proposal that must save thousands li-om falling. No, if this is Chri.-tianitv, I don't want it. The action of these men (prio-t-i make me more determined against it every day I live." Thus it is a fact, not an unfair inference, that the name nf Jesus Christ is made abhorrent to nianv, and by the very men who should lie drawing and leading all to Him. If Archdeacon Harper is justified "as a priest of (he Church" in using such strong words towards men who are honourably and zealously fighting U, e „, os t terrible foe the Christian Church has, what scathing words ol denunciation may not these leaders and fighters apply to this unscrupulous' foe of mankind a nil yet lie blameless. Tn Hie meantime this matter should be cleared up: either the statements proved or the lie'nailed down. I'iider any circumstances we may expect that the Trade will treasure up and publish the Archdeacon's statements the world over when the drink evil requires bolstering up.—l am, etc., "A .MAN IN THE STREET." "HOW NOT TO FIGHT." Sir,—ln yours of December 11 there appears another of these political .addros-cs-from the pulpit of St. Peter's, delivered by Archdeacon Harper. I consider the address should have been headed "How to Start a Fight." Evidently the Archdeacon was smarting under the moral victory that had been gained by the NoLicense party, in favour of Dominion Prohibition. It is not hard to see what side the Archdeacon stands "for; I hope 1 will live to see the day that mv vote cast for No-License will have as'much power in determining these issues as an archdeacon's cast for Continuance: and when this question is boiled down; it sininly amounts to this: Are the people to be denied the right to say whether they will have drinking saloons in their midst or not: The Legislature of New Zealand has affirmed one vote one value in Parliamentary elections; how long are we to be denied the same on this'most important issue? The Government claims to lie democratic. I do not think this democratic in any shape or form. The Archdeacon should know that most of the lenders of medical science have been for years studying preventive treatment instead of curative, and surely the .Archdeacon will admit that drunkenness is a disease. The Archdeacon's pleas for liberty will not hold water. I think it :<• becoming more apparent every day I hat "no man liveth unto himself." and that, the community must be respected in these questions. Anything that tends to lower the tone of a few must eventually have a demoralising effect on all. Personally 1 think if men in the Archdeacon's position would try and level up aud not lo level down, it would b n a step in the right direction. Before leaving this subject the Archdeaeou makes a very son'ous statement, a statement I think lib would (hid it very hard to prove. -In his reference to same of the political parties, be savs: '"'Many of thorn repudiate Jesus Christ." 1 do not pretend to know ell the religious opinions of the meii standing in Wellington and suburbs. Perhaps the Archdeacon does. I do not believe that the Archdeacon could name two candidates of such belief. Who are we to blame if such men be found!-' Surely such political parsons as the Archdeacon, wlio. instead of in-caching the Co-pel, expresses the old-fashioned political prejudices. For Hie benefit of your readers who may not belong to (he Anglican Church. I will quote a question that Archdeacon Harper took at his receiving priest's orders: "Will you maintain and set forward, as much as lic-th iu you. quietness, peace, and love, 'among all Christian people, and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge?" 1 leave tho. Archdeacon lo answer has he done so since these elections came before the people? Now, in regard to some statements tint were going about in some districts in the Archdeacon's parish, T deemed it onduty to'wait, on him. and made some inquiries about these, and from tho answer the Archdeacon gave me I ""came - to" the conclusion that he had been 'meditating on a. Psalm where the. Psalmist "said in hi? heart all men' are liars." The Archdeacon's lips gave expression to his thoughts. Now, from the charges he made to me concerning certain parlies. 1 made some inquiries, and 1 found that lie was not correct. I wrote the Archdeacon if he would eive me the liberty in the interests., of .the parties to publish the substance of our interview.. He replied tlint he had imff-d the contents of mv note. I deemed this a non-committal replv. 1 again asked him for a yes or no ri-niv. I.'f. to writing 1 have mil received his answer. Evidently the Archdeacon can make charges in private that lie will not make -in public. Iu conclusion, if I am to be driven out of the Church, and 1 r-ee no other alternative.. 1 intend lo nut on record my reasons, so as Ihe Arcliileiicm will know the cause of mv iion-altenilance.—l am. etc.. T. M. MILLIGAX. Taitvillc. December Ili. 1011. Messrs. D.abrely and Co. will held n ! -lock sale at T.evin on Fridav nexl. They ( (■'iv that the jnle will be conducted , Milder tlie time limit system. ( The Tauniariinui Borough Council iiv- i riles tenders for carrying out the sewer- i ige of (he borough. i Particulars of a gentleman's residence, silualcd a' Tliorndon. and which is for -ale. are advertised iu Ibis issue bv Messi-'. W. 11. Turnbull aud Co. In aii-.t'ier column will '■" I'-nuul' a number of insurance notices, inserted by . the vari "-. •- "are firm- regarding , quarler day, December JI. . (ileum! w:i- br.ikin al San franciscn I fii Odubor II fur Hie I'uii.-iui.-i IVilte Kv|i;?ih'oo bv Pi-p-idrnl Tall, iu the pre- < ttlitg 01' I'JO.QUO dcol'lb* 1 1