RELIGION AND POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16744, 28 December 1914, Page 8

RELIGION AND POLITICS.

10 THE EDITOR. Sir,—Permit me in reply to Mr Dud- \ ley's letter to assure the reverend gentleman that I recognise that he or any | other person has as much right to lus | personal political opinions as I have to j mine- What 1 object to is for a minister of the gospel holding strong party] political opinions using his puipit tor) the purpose of practically advocating the claims of my late political oppo-i nent under the guise of advocating the so-called Bible in State schools platform. If the reverend gentleman was eo enthused on tho no-license, questtou as ho would like the readers of your paper to believe, how was it that no contented himself with reading the deliverance of the church on this question without any comment, while en the Bible in State schools question ho not only urged his hearers not to support by their votes any person *vho was opposed to tho platform of the League, but to support the League is' embodying the highest moral question ?! As Mr Noswcrthy had pledged himself to support the League in all its demands, and there being only two candidates,»l being tho other, his counsel could have but one meaning. Wednesday's letter shows unmistakably the instability of his position. Delete the inconsequential from his letter and) all that is left confirms all 1 wrote' against—prostituting the pulpit, and the platform of the BiblJ iu Schooi-j League to party political purposes -is was cone by Mr Dudley, Let me say ! here he certainly has a very confused idea of the duty of the pastor to rnj members of his flock. In his opinion I ' was a sheep going astray. Yet he would I have the straying sheep seek tho shepherd and not the diopherd tho sheep. Mr Dudley has never spoken to me :>u I this question, and his courage and can-j dour consisted in using his puipit to m- j directly support Mr Nosworthy, who I not only sii|.poris the whole platforii j of the League, but also the political j party Mr Dudley champions, and fchej leturn of whose candidate he used all his private and pulpit influence to secure. While I am writing on this subject permit me to draw "attention to another phase of this question which viJl go to show the Ashburtoii election was not decided on (political grounds, b-it largely by the side issue of the pla .- form of the League. Some months back a systematic crusade was mads of this electorate by a body of ladies to obtain pledges from electors to support &t the ballo; the candidate wh> ; would promise to vote to give legish- : five effect to the objects of the Leagues. Hundreds, I might say thousauds. signed these pledges, not thinking what it involved tliem in. During- the 'ate campaign letters were sent direct to those who had signed these pledges reminding them of the pledge they u ad taken to place the platform of the League above all party or other political considerations, and calling upon them in fulfilment of their pledge to vote for M" Nosworthy, who supported -.he platform of the League; and itot only to record their own vote, but as a stalwart in the cause of righteousness to endeavour to persuade others to do likewise. These letters were signed on behalf of Canon Garland by Mr Cameron, and they show unmistakably tho spirit of intolerance practised and inculcated by the loaders of the League. My friend Mr Nosworthy felt- so deeply indebted to the leaders and workers I of thei Leagne, who had worked so hard for him that, he mei them after 'bej state of the poll had been disclosed and publicly thanked them for the part they had taken, which had secured T.S, election. I I see, Sir. this League is going to j coutinne its nnderhind work, and »a view of possible political events in tho near future it. is high time that public, opinion was created on this importa.it question and -a strong determinatioa formed to resist by all lawful means the attempts put forward to dominate the political iife of tho Dominion 5,7 what are no more than petty side issues.—l am, etc., W. S. MASLIN. Geraldine, December 23.