DR. GIBB'S BREACH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 214, 7 September 1905, Page 3

DR. GIBB'S BREACH.

REPLY FROM THE PULPIT. TIME TO SPEAK OUT. St. John's Church was densely crowded on Sunday night (says the Time*), when T)r Gibb conducted a service in'commemoration of the declaration of peace between Japan and Russia. Before beginning his sermon IJr Gibb made reference to the breach ot privilege with which he had been charged by a majority of the House ol Representatives the other evening. >Ie said : , , I supose many of you expect me to say something concerning tho remarkable breach of privilege debate in the House the other evening. It was in many respects a very remarkable debate If a member of Parliament proves false to his promises you may, it seems, go into his electorate and plainly tell his constituents so. Th«t involves no breach of prmlge; but marvellous to relate, if you venture to Sate your intention to the person chiefly concerned; you are guilty of an offence against the laws of the House. Well, for my part, I fail to see the point which a majority of the House apparently saw clearly,, and in like circumstances I will again do exactly what I did The fact is; that t is time and more than time for the promoters of the great crusade for the restoration of the Bible to tue pubhc schools to speak straigt out., and to insist that promises made to them shall be kepi It has come to a precious pass in this supposedly free community if a man may not speik out his convictions about Parliament and jembers without let or hindrance. And jet i do Sot think that anything better for the cause could happen than that an effoxS should be made to restrict reedom of speech. But that will not hapS There will be no. martyrs made. Neither bonds or imprisonParliament itself. The whole thing is absurd The discussion, however, ieveated a remarkable vocabulary of vftuperation, and a dictionary of slang might be enriched by ™ se °| the choice expressions that wee> used by one or two members concerning the bold, bad man who l^d dared to invade the sacrosanct privileges ot Par liament. I have, however, it was said, been sufficiently punished. V\eU well' I have had a good deal of quiet amtisement out of that statement, as doubtless so have you.