A BIBLICAL BOMBARDMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 July 1905, Page 1

A BIBLICAL BOMBARDMENT

AIR McNAE AND THE YOUNG REFORM PARTY. QUOTING SCRIPTURE FOR THEIR PURPOSE. The Young Reform party, otherwise the New Liberal party, has been in process of incubation for some time past, and its ultimate hatching was not achieved without some quiet humours, says the Wellington Rost. The chief of these was an ingenious Scriptural exchange over the telegraph wires between Air R. and Air G. Laurensnn. Mr McNab was found to bo coy when approached with e, view to joining the party, and ultimately he declined to throw in his lot with the eager reformers on the plea that the time was not ripe for organisation. Thereupon the member for Lyttelton telegraphed to him : “Judges v., v. 23; Curse ye Mcross, said the angel of the Lord, corse yo bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to tlie help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” The member of Ivlataura lay low for throe days upon receipt of this message (it is alleged frantically searching through all Si'iichl-e- 1 in Hie meantime for a Bible), and ultimately he got back at the parly by telegraph-

mg: “Isaiah i., v. 19 and 20: If ye be willing and obedient ye shall oat the good of the land ; but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the sword; for tho mouth o ftho Lord had spoken it.” i w- the reply: “Revelation iii., 15 1" 18: I know thy works, that Midi art neither cold not hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot. I will spue theo out of my mouth. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked . I counsel thee, to buy mo gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that #Vm mavest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoifit thine eyef with eye Salvo, that thou mayest This pretty insult brought from Mr tho rejoinder;— . “Isaiah iv., v. 1: And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying. We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel: only let ns be called by thy name to take away our re--1 prottch. Also Aisaiah iii.j v, 10,

11, 12: lake counsel together, and it shall come to- nought: speak the word, and it shall not stand: for Clod is with ns. For the Lord snake thus to me with a strong baud, an J instructed mo \ I hat f should not walk in tho ways of tins people, saying: ye not A Confederacy to all them Jo whom this people shall sav A Confederacy, neither fear 3-0 their fear.* nor bo afraid.” Mm retaliation from the now part 3 kept to 1 s;ti;:h ;—- “Isaiah xiv., v. 13, 14: For thou hast said in thy heart. I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above (lie stars of Cod: I will fit .also upon tile mount of the congregation, in'the sides of the north: J will ascend above tho heights of the clouds; I will ■ be like the Alost High.” 'J hereupon Mat,aura came with a n it. and prophesied what would be■•ll tho new n;irtv. in the words of Isaiah: t;vi.. v. 13: Yet thou be bre.itgit'., down to hell to (he sides of the-pit. They that see I hep shall narrowly -look upon thee and consider thee, saying, Is this tho man that made .the earth (0 tremble, that did shake kingdoms ; that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his risoners?” As ;> final reply to this tho member for Lyttelton reverted to Judges; “Judges viii., v. 5 and 6: And ho said unto tho men of Succoth, Give, I pray you. leaves of bread unto the people (hat follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zcb- ’’ 1 Seddon) and Zcdmunna (Ward), kinds of Midim:. And the princes of Saccol h said, Are (lie hands of Zebah and Znlmuuna now in thine hand, that we should give l bread unto (nine army?” “ ; And then Iho par; r got seriously to work