A RECONCILIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2129, 1 December 1868, Page 3

A RECONCILIATION.

The following letter, recently presented to the Rev. M. 11. Martin, Curate of Tuapoka and Waitahuna by tho congregation, together with that gentleman's reply, has been hmded to ua for publication :—

Lawrence. Nov. 1(5, IS6B. To the Rev. M. H. Ma-tin, A.M., Curate of

Tuapcka and Waitahuna.' Reverend and Dear Sir—lt will be in your recollection that some months since a misunderstanding <>f a most painful nature took pace between your congregation and yourd«!f, and that its immediate result was a decision that you would leave Lr.ivrence at the end of this year, and that the services of another clergyman should be sought from th.) home country.

Immediately after that event, a feeling set in that all parties had been too hasty, and that had wiser ounsel existed and prevailed, the circuoitttances which took place might have be«n avcted.

This feeling has grown, and as the lapse of time ha=j obliterated the remembrance of bitternesses which it is desired for ever to bury in oblivion, your congregation has unanimonsly concluded that to part with yon and your aarvices would be a blow to the Church of Kngl.-uid in this district which it would not speedily recover. Feeling this, i*. was with, intense pleasure tlrvt we (yonr congregation, and others who occasionally attend your v.ihied ministry), hoard from Mr W. C. Young that he hid not received the letter which was addreaaed to him by us requesting him to procure a clergyman, and us that no possibility existed of that letter being given effect to by any other person. We wish, now, dear sir, with all kindness and cordiality, to assure you of our perfect confidence in you. as aclergyimn, to acknowledge our gratitudo to you for the inestfcnable services which you have rendered to us as a congregation, aa well as to the Christian Church generally, sinco you have resided with us ; to assure you that wo do not desire the advent of another in your p'cead, but are exMedinjjly aaxioua th«t you. ■should con-

( tinuo with us—tiusMng and h-ticving that, as tiino tolk cm, our miitii.il goodwill and iMTcction wilt bo increasingly manifest, ami that the gocd work yr v "hive commenced, hero will yield nhunils-ir mat. Wo further Irish most sj« -c.Mr.Ky to awure y.-ii of our dc.p .iwr, r f r the ;tr.c< ward cir-c.-.tjistatic-.s above i.lh'.lcd t.>, which m>r.<j wore wire cr».i;;;!i ti) .avctr., r.nd to oxprec* our 'elief that in thu c imi; yuii then pnrsued you were not actuated'by any meo cvnary motive And, lastly, we rlFrcfioncti !v incite rou: to remain amoiii-wt us. dusiriiig tn.it in considering your answer to this ri-qve:tfc, you. nny be divinely a^sisttd and directed la a favourable reply. Wo arc, &c. t [Here folL.u- 108 si>r..ifuivs —/jij 1-cinijfrrra Lawn nco and Wcl.hcrstoi.es, ami o'-i from the Bh-.e Spur ]

Tho following is Mr Martin's repTy, sircc received by the Secretary on behalf of the, congregation :— 1-awrcnce, 20th November, ISS-*?. To tho Church of England Congrrgatioiw resident in the district of Tuapvica. and the Uiuo Spur. Dear Brethren—l beg to acknowledge yonrk'"nd letter, which w.s j)r*scntt-d to mo )>y tho Secretary, on your behalf, nt tho Chnrclz. meeting, hist Wednesday evening. 1 only yesterday received a letter from., tho Bisho , accepting my resignation, which. 1 forwarded some mx wct:ks ago—that answer having r C en flclaycd on account of his Lordship's attendance at tho Auckland General Synod. In cons'-quenco of tho contents of your letter to n,e, 1 will write to his Lordship, requesting to he nllnwid to withdraw my resignation, which I believe ho will permit mo to c?o.

Since about .1 mouth ago, when I became aware of your intention of addressing me on. the subject of remaining, I have been giving the matter every consideration ; and although, previous to that I had been maturing my plans for returning to England, 1 decided that if an urgent and general appeal wete maclo me, it would bo my duty to waive perBonal convenience for tho public benefit. On receipt, therefore, of your letter, I felt disposed to accept your invitation to remain— not only on consideration that thxt letter contains bo many hearty expressions of your esteem, and that the signatures attached to it ombr.icj almost tho whole of tho male portion of my congregation iii this d.strict, but ateo from tho hopeful signu which I have observed within tho last few months of good resulting fn in our la' ours ; I say onr labours, for I beLuai we have now somo Christian persons of both texes amongst us, who aro endeavouring to do their share towards the npiritua.l welfare of the congregation, and who feel tho imrostanee of working not only on bih-.lf of the outward edifice, hut the internal and reaL structure of our Lord';; temple. It is ray earnest prayer that thes-: my fellow-work-men may inereafo. This will bo my greatest encouragement to Bf> forward. If the con-vert-ion of our brethren is the chit f aim oE every Christian amongst u», I am bur.) th.\ft our labours nlmll not bo in vain ; wo f halL live, in pence, and the (!od of peaca shall be with us.—l am. dear brethren,

Your affectionate I'astor, M. 11. Maiitiw.