"PULPIT CRITICISM."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9091, 27 June 1888, Page 6

"PULPIT CRITICISM."

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, Personal attack from the pulpit is a gross betrayal of trust. It is because I feel the accusation of your correspondent, notwithstanding its anonymous character, to be a grave and serious one, that I ask for a large indulgence, and request you in the interests of fair play to print a sermon, which otherwise would have no claim on public attention. Though hurriedly written, and therefore open to criticism trom many

points of view (I purposely send it as it was preached, without correction.) I trust it is neither unrighteous, unchristian, nor . a piece of ecclesiastical vituperation devoid of all charity, proof, or point. Before closing, I should like to state that the innovations complained of by your correspondent are common to all cathedrals belonging to the Anglican communion, whether at home or abroad, so far as I know, and that it is not "church rites" but the "principles which underlie the Church of England service," that I hope to speak of next Sunday morning.—l am, &c., G. H. S. Walpole.

[We have read the sermon sent by Mr. Walpole, but in the present pressure on our columns we cannot insert it in full. It was on the text, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." The latter portion of the discourse is a condemnation of those who hinder others in gook work. Mr. Walpole says "By judging others we lay ourselves open to the judgment, not only of God, but of man. Men at once turn round and ask, ' But who art thou that judgest another.' It is to avoid this that men in these days shelter their opinions under cowardly noms de plume. They pass judgment froely, but they do it in a hidden, cowardly way, for they are afraid of the world." Mr. Walpole then quotos the following from a Nonconformist paper, and enlarges upon it: ' There are men in the Church of Christ wno have never shown great ability to plan or execute anything. Their main forte seems to bo sanding axles. Thoy can get in the way of others, they can hinder, find fault, pervert, sow jealousy. Hero we find men who from love to the cause of God (God knows there is no other reason) desire to labour earnestly, energetically, and effectually in the Master's work, but by the time they are under way, others who have never succeeded in accomplishing anything, are ready to throw sand on their axles, neutralise their efforts, until they and their Workers are discouraged, and the work abandoned, after which the sand-throwers relapse into a condition of quietude. They have done what they could, which was simply to hinder others from doing anything, and now their song is, "I told you so ; I knew that nothing would be done." This our correspondent has taken as referring to his letters about Ritualism at St. Mary's. Mr. Walpole denies that he intended to make any " personal attack from the pulpit," and our correspondent, we presume, will be willing to accept his word. —ED.]