A THOROUGH WANT OF CONSISTENCY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13268, 27 April 1905, Page 10

A THOROUGH WANT OF CONSISTENCY

. TO TEE EDITOR.

,-Slß,—ln mine of the 12th. inst. I claimed 'j your indulgence to look into tho educational \ aspect-ro above, in which, I think, I fairly proved that.tho.Purity:party Us failed to " bring into effect its aims and wishes. "With aU its blowing of trumpets and thank- f offerings to God, it has failod to do good- ■}■ to influence mcu and turn them from dark- • ncss to light, and from'the power of Satan' " to God. The party Has' failed to bring " happiness and contentment into every house: . f 1 Those who,-are, preaching have failed to prove that they are- any better off either a morally, intellectually, or physioally, or as II to'tho good things of this life—" money." . This trying to rriake men and womon good 'J by acts of Parliament, instead of moral .opeii' teaching,'lins keen left in the hands of a 'S sect, or party, which has no idea, of consistency, no sense of justice, no lovo for i a openness, no love for nrinciplc, no thought' » of carrying out our Lord's command "Do ». unto others as you would that they should , do unto you." In all things there'is a limit dangerous to overstep; for, once stepped P over, return or retraction is impossible. ? Tbo party, has found this out. Again, as D the'..Russians'-have, it,- "Ho who 1 -hunts B several' hares at the same time returns with fl none." Tho party has been hunting threo '' hares. The two .first have escaped, and it has none as yet. I would, recommend c ' caution, for. as a relieving force the party is v intoxicated 'by false excitement and is under c a- delusion that it exclusively possesses a T sober mind, and is so puffed up with conceit a that it is not charitable enough to allow ° that thero are others outside the pate who c are as sober, - but whose judgment,is based t on a broader foundation. I There is a remedy, and it offers itself to all if .they will but ombrace it—viz., education, It is not an easy task to educate. It is ono of the greatest difficulties a schoolmaster'has to- contend with—the gift or knack of conveying his thoughts so that the dullest and most narrow-minded in the class ' may be ablo to grapple with and hold the * information conveyed. To obtain the know- ' ledge, howtq bring up thnso who are to come, , or hava come, of ago is the difficulty. Unless : one is pure, it is difficult to convoy tho )e6son.- It cannot bo accomplished by copy- ! ing the example of. Christian teaching— . " Don't do as I do, but do as I tell you." ' On a broad .basis it must be acknowledged 3 that confidence begets confidence. Thoso who have come of age and 1 those coming of ' ago must demand respect: They must be ; taken into our confidence and be confided in, i when the attendant result will follow—viz., ' i that confidence begets confidence. If, on ' tho. other hand, . they are treated with J j susniciou, and consequently growled at, it • I will bo resented. It is beyond qnestion that ' 1 boys and irirls are ever looking to someone, j' : and especially their narents, for education. ' \ • Tii tho majority of. Instances they ask for \ bread and are' given a stone. Parents and those in -authority, being sly, acting the lie . and also the hypocrite, forget that ' children' aro quick in. their perceptions, and can quickly see and com- , i)r«liend what is going on around them.. What (hoy see and hear makes., a clear : impression, and it is this impression which juicers in I'mir minds and is the controlling inftueno-'*, which forms their characters for "ood or evil. When children see thai their fathers cease to be manly and their mothers ceas!* to b? womanly, and there is no home Initiation, .they naturally stray from virtue. TlvV r.travinp' fmm virtue happens offener in Oh-ist.ian families than anions tlmse out- : side th" nnle of religion. .To=.cob Honking ( nv?\ "Trent a man as n, scoundrel, and the twulenw is for Mm to '-ecome a scoundrel; cujwel him, and V will 'Veeive you; trust in hie honour, an'd h".wil" be. true to you." St with boys and eh-ls who hnve come of n™ o'-jire coming of age.—l am, <> f i.. April 20. _________ Eadie '