MR HEWITSON'S LETTERS ON THE PROPOSED CATHEDRAL. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12991, 4 June 1904, Page 9

MR HEWITSON'S LETTERS ON THE PROPOSED CATHEDRAL. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin,—l did not suppose- that Mr Hewit* son really expected me to answer the question contained in his first letter, nor do 1 proposo to do-so even now, although I anj hereby acknowledging' his letters lest mj silenco should bo sot down as ecornfulness.

Mr Hcwitson could hardly be unawari that I am only an officer of tho church ta which'l belong, or thnt the question tQ which he now professes to await a reply would, if entered upon, involve the discussion of tho somewhat , abstract and technical subject of holy orders, which thif matter in. hand by no means calls for. 1 wish, however, to take this opportunity of saying that I was perfectly sincere when, at the first of tho meetings held in promotion of the building of a cathedral; I said that I believed such a scheme would have a unifying effect—that, with reunion so much in tho air as it is to-day, and tho marvellous and almost universal yearning for such unification as could only bo ascribed to the inspiration of God, who should say that tho successor of Ml- Hcwit6on might not sit down with.my successor in the Cathedral we were assembled to promote? The bringing about-of such a' consummation wo must leave to Providence, to tho increase of knowledge and 'the wideniug of sympathies; but I am convinced that it is tho tendency of great thingseven of groat and sacred buildings—to lift us out of our 'prepossessions, and to do U3 good.' The words I have Inst written remind mo that u Presbyterian gentleman whom I met to-day said, "Why, the movement has already done good in this' city. I have hardly over known such n harmonious feeling as prevails upon this question. It is really a city question, and does not. belong to you alone." . I certainly said that eorao might consider me bold in addressing myself to tho publio at largo, but I presented reasons which' appeared to mo to justify this action, and I am devoutly thankful that so many have rightly understood my feeling. I said, at tho same time, that it was for Anglican Churchmen to bear tho brunt of this effort, and that, while I should bo deeply grateful for outside help, without which I could hardly hope to succeed according -to my ideas, yet I should feel humiliated if-there anpoarud a teudency to tako advantage of the generosity of those not of our communion. Sir, when we observe a brother minister of Mr Uewiteon's denouncing with all bis native vigour the evils of denominationalism, perhaps it is not too soon to begin tJio building of an Evangelical Cathedral.— I am, etc., S. T., Ddsedih. Bishopsgrove, June 2.