Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 846, 15 February 1868, Page 8

A DAY OF HUMILIATION

'A , deputation consisting; of the Reyr D>. M. Stuart, E. G. Edwards, X*. Cranes? bee, and r- Cox, .had an interview Vith ' His Honor; the Superintendent, on'Tues- ' 'day afternoon.' Mr Stuart said that a meeting of Ministers and others had' been held on "Mqn■day; and the following document emanating from that meeting ivoald explain the object of the deputation :—: — ' Dunedin, Feb. lOtb, 1868. At a meetingjotMinisters .and others held this day, in the ]?irst Church, called to consider what 'action should be advised in connection with the visitation of storm and flood which, has' entailed great loss and suffering on many of our fellow-settlers : Mr Stuart having been called to the chair — It ■was moved by John Gillie's, 'Esq.,- and seconded by the Rev R. Connebee, "That a deputation, consisting ©£ Revs E. G. Edwards, X! Connebee, — Cox, " Fitchett, and B. M. SSaart, wait on His Honor, the Superintendent, and the Honorable the Solicitor General, .and request them to set apart the 20th inst.', or some other suitable day, for public prayer, in consequence of the recent destructive floods." , As Christians and as citizens, they sympathised very deeply, not oiily with the Government but with their fellow-settlers, in the very great losses which the floods had entailed ; and, while so sympathising, they were of opinion that the community would hail as a boon, the appointment, by public authority, of a day for Public Prayer, consequent upon the event. Having that opinion, the deputation came to suggest the appointment of such a day.

The Superintendent : Dq you mean that it should be Provincial only, or Colonial?

Mr Stuart : Provincial : but we have been led to believe that Mr Harris, the Solicitor-General, would give authority to the officials of the General Government to observe the day, so that, within the Province, the observance might be general.

Mr Connebee said that the deputation were anxious to combine the two Governments in the proposed action ; but there happened to be, on the parfc of the different Churches, a perfect unanimity as to the desirableness of a day being appointed. The deputation thought that it was the feeling, not alone of the religious bodies but of the public generally — that both would be glad of a day for recognising the hand of Providence in the late destructive floods, and for humbling themselves acoordingly.

Mr Edwards had unfortunately not been able to be present at the meeting ; but he cordially endorsed what had been said to His Honor. He would suggest, however, that it would be worth consideration whether the day to be appointed should not he a, Sunday. If a week day was appointed, there would probably be, instead of a holy- day, a holiday to some extent. There would probably be an excursion to the Heads, and other things, which would be very painful to many persons. Besides, having in view the interests of those who had to live by their daily labor, he would suggest that, humanly speaking, the appointment of ■ a Sunday would be more generally acceptable.

Mr Stuart said that the point was raised at the meeting on Monday evening. It was thought by some, that a half-day — the Government offices being closed at twelve or one o'clock — would be the more desirable plan ; but so far as he could gather the opinions of those present at the meeting, it was felt that whether a ] half or a whole day was fixed upon, it | was desirable that a week day should be ■chosen. The reason given was this — That, from a human point of view, even, the giving an opportunity to the people of having their minds drawn away from their particular sores, might really bo beneficial. We all knew that whilst men thought very greatly of their own particular evils, they were very rarely able to put forth all their energies to meet those evils ; and, apart altogether from religion, it had been found, in such cases, a necessary and a good thing, that men should have their attention for a while drawn from their own sores and losses, to the consideration of a higher object. He could sympathise with Mr Edwards, as to working men losing a day's wages ; but, generally, it would be found that no men were more ready to welcome days of prayer, than working men. The fact that many might employ for purposes of amusement a day appointed for prayer, was to be regretted ;- but we could not help it : men would so use the Sunday, sometimes.

The Superintendent said that the desirability of such a day being appointed, presented itself to his mind a week ago ; but, from the varying opinions which existed, as to the propriety of the State, or the Civil Power, taking any action in such a matter, he thought it not expedient to act. • But now that the initia-

'tiy;e had been taken byithe! Churehes-^-i and the deputation, ..together; withithel ! names; of .those , iptfesent , at the meeting, represented nearly every religious denomination in the Prtovin'ce,"he believed — he should feetifr his duty, ad'th&'Pok'tieal Head of the Province, to < call jupon M 4: fellow-citizens and settlersyto- unite in aetting- apart a day for humiliation* and' prayer. > As to whether a wedk-'dayjor a Sunday should be named',' lie should be guided entirely by the opinions of the deputation. " • > ■ Mr Cox thought, that a3 what was con-templated-was a special thing, there should be a speciaLday appomted-r-which a Sunday would scarcely be. The Superintendent : That coincides greatly with my own opinion. Mr Connbbee : It is always so at Home, where a special day is given to each special object. % > I The Superintendent admitted that there was a good deal of force in what Mr Edwards had said. There was a probability of many making a week-day a holiday ; although he questioned* whether even the steam-boat owners were not sufficiently impressed with the calamities, to abstain from running their boats on such a day. Mr Connebee thought that as these calamities had come home to us so directly, we must feel them specially^ and show that we did so.

Mr Cox did not think that there would be more excursions on a day appointed for pnblic prayer, than there generally were on a Sunday. As to the working men, he did not think that they would feel the loss of a day's wages much, on such an occasion.

The Superintendent : At any rate, thf observance of the day can only be voluntary. We can only shut the Government offices, and recommend that the day be properly kept.

Mr Cox said that the day would, of course, be appointed as one of humiliation and prayer — not of " fasting, humiliation, and prayer/ as was stated in the newspaper.

Mr Connebee supposed that the calamity was the heaviest that had ever fallen upon Otago.

The Superintendent thought so, undoubtedly.

Mr Edwards suggested that collections for the sufferers should be made in all the Churches. "

It was agreed that this should be left to the different congregations ; and that the day to be appointed should be Thursday, the 20th inst. After some arrangements, as to the notice to be issued, the deputation thanked His Honor, and) retired.