LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13692, 7 March 1908, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

REV. MR. BLADE'S ADDRESS.

Sir,—The weighty words delivered by the President of the Methodist Conference on Friday evening must appeal to the heart of every Christian in the community, and with your permission, sir, I will, again draw the attention of your readers to some -of them. tie is reported as having said, inter. alia. In view of the state of the world, in view ol the deplorable condition of our cities in view of the deadly attacks that were marie S"V Church's citadel by the forces of unbelief, of materialism, and of sensualism, rlio divisions of the Christian Church were a crime against God and against man." In my humble way I have been saying this for years, but now that it goes forth to the world bearing the imprimatur of a president of a Methodist Conference spoken ex cathedra, it deserves the attention of every thinking man and woman who in this community are striving for the coming of the Kingdom in its fullness. Mr. Slado also drew attention to "the deep and awful cleavage that exists between the working classes and the Christian Church." I will try and show the intimate connection between the two and trust to be able to show that so far as logic goes the working classes are the more logical of the two. . - ■ • Mr. Slade says: "A crime against God and against man." Now, a crime of necessity implies' criminals. Who, then, are the criminals in this,case? Are they not— Mr. Slade, being judge—are they no* all those who year by year do their best to enlarge the borders of Wesleyan Methodism, of Presbyterian ism, and of the other socalled branches of the Christian Church! Now, if those inside the Church are criminals, in what sense are they'. Better than those outside? 1 think in one sense they are, not better but worse, for "He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Do not those who, by their failure to live up, to the light .they possess, being professedly the disciples of Christ, do they not crucify afresh the Lord of Life and Glory by such conduct? It Seems to me a fair inference. I rejoice to see the prominence given in the Presidential address to the phrase "Church of Christ," and hope that year by year it may be found to have a greater prominence until it will be supreme, and the terms Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, et hoc genus omne, are consigned to the limbo of obsolete and useless lumber, where they belong. For does it not become the Bride to honour her groom, by being known by His name? Does not the reasoning of Paul in 1 Cor. 1 to 3, apply with terrific force •to the conditions obtaining to-day? "Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and 1 of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptised in the name of Paul." "For while one saitli I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal?" And the same writer gives us a definition of'" carnal," so that we are- at no loss to understand what he means. Rom. viii. 6-7. "For to be carnally minded is death." ■ " For the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." 1 close only because. of.not wishing to trespass at. too great length on your space, and have endeavoxired to speak " in .'love, and according to the oracles of God and: to edify.' 1 ■"■"" ' ".■":•■•••. • H. N.- Baoxai.t..

MAIL SERVICES.

Sir, —In your last Saturday's issue reread with some irritation '• an ' account of some remarks by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones on the subject of the, much discussed "All-Red Route,'' a subject, which much; nonsejise has been talked by people who should know better. New Zealand wants an efficient mail connection with England. . She wants the best service it is possible'to* obtain/or. . according to Mr. Hall-Jones, something still better. Incidentally she would like some-' one else to pay for it. Mr. Hall-Jones. would like to see two already heavily subsidised steamers put on this service, where they would have to be still more heavily subsidised, and where they would probably stick in the mud (a detail, of course). Mr. Hall-Jones chooses these steamers beeav.se they are the best in the world, and so eminently suited to the needs of an important place like New Zealand. This is all ver» well; but Mr. Hall-Jones goes on to s*y that with an 38-knot boat on the _Pacific run we could have a 23 days' service. 1 wonder if the lion, gentleman took th« trouble to think before he made this statement. Here are some figures which might be worth consideration :London to Black- -- sod Bav. 12 hours: Blacksod Bay' to Halifax (2lio knots), 100 hours (possible but unlikely) ; Halifax to Vancouver (3700 miles), 120 hours (better than we do in New..Zealand—Mr. H.-J.): total 232 hours, or, allowing for transference of. mails, etc, say," 10 days. Now there is no steamer yet built that could run from Vancouver to Auckland in 13 days. Mr. Hall-Jones' 18-knofc boat might do it in 17, but with very little allowance for coaling, etc., but we shall find the 28-day standard very difficult to . lower. Now, sir, 1 should -like to suggest that we do not, hanker- after a 23 days' service. What we do want is a reliable service, which, given a reasonable time-table, will punctually observe it. In our dreams we may revel in some fairy schemes, but on waking we should like to find something efficient and punctual, and something that we can afford to pay for. Finally, I should like to recommend to Mr. Hall-Jones' consideration a class of ocean-going destroyer, such as the Tartar. Cossack, Mohawk. etc., which the British navy is building. These boats are even more under government control than the Cunard'steamships, and have attained the considerable speed of over oo . knots. Who knows but we may yet ruover to London for the week-end? .. T.R.