RELIGIOUS FAITH RUN WILD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 6121, 3 May 1888, Page 4

RELIGIOUS FAITH RUN WILD.

As an example of religious faith run wild, the letter of a Mr Nielson published in the last issue of the New Zealand Methodist is worth quoting. It refers to the burning of the Norsewood settlement, and after detailing the damage done, concludes as follows : — " With regard to the real cause of the fire, I look upon it as a judgment from God for the wickedness of the people, who Lave refused to rspent after having heard so much of God's words, although, thank God, there are a few godfearing people there. About four years ago the Norsewood people by their votes closed the ! hotel in the township and three others in the district. Only a week before the fire the people voted to open the hotel again, and did so with much joy. If others cannot see or will not see God's hand in the , calamity, I can see it, and I know the people well, having been acquainted with j them for nearly 13 years. May this vlsi- ■ tation be a warning not only to Norsewood but to the whole colony." Thus the same hackneyed and somewhat impious theory over again ; the theory that ctedlts the Almighty with raising a tornado thab engnlphs a hundred vessels in order to get at boatswain Bill Smith, who indulged in Jamaica rum to excess on Friday week, or compassing an earthquake for the destruction of a juvenile Sabbaih-breaker. In this Norsewood fire 40 buildings were destroyed, and 20 families and 250 children rendered home- | less and penniles ; all, according to Mr 1 Nielson, on account of certain people having voted " with much joy" to reopen an hotel. Mr Nielson (who is a Scandinavian minister), does not mean to be irreverent ; tar from it. But he cannot divest himself of tho, idea that the tl hand of God" he looks for in every calamity is clumsy in its operations. — Civis.