"A JUDGMENT FROM HEAVEN."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1330, 26 May 1881, Page 2

"A JUDGMENT FROM HEAVEN."

Some extraordinary remarks wer e made by a Presbyterian clergyman— the JEtav. Mr. Sidey— at Napier last Sunday week. In addressing his congregation on the Tararua disaster, he uhesitatingly said that he recognised in it "a judgment from heaven." He added that the Union Company, by overwork, had lowered the morals of their men, and had " manifested supreme contempt for the bearing of divine law, and the moral well-being of come of the communities with whom their trade brings them in contact, in their treatment of the Sabbath." It ia not our purpose to defend the Union Company, who are well able to. take care of themselves. As a matter of fact, we are not at all sure that their men are not overworked. Surely, however, a protest must be entered against language, such as that of Mr. Sidey, being used from the pulpit. In the wreck of the Tarav.ua perished 120 human beings, whose death has oarriod mourning and woe into every part of the colony. Among them were venerable ministers of the Gospel, helpless women and innocent children. To say that Providence brought about the destruction of all these lives, and the distress and Buffering consequent thereon, as " a judgment" upon a shipping company for overworking its men, and breaking the Sabbath, seems to us little short of blasphemous. No doubt it is beneficial at times to refer to passing events, with a view of deducing the lessons which they convey ; but if an awful catastrophe is to be treated in the manner in which the wreck of the Tararua has been handled by the Rev. Mr. Sidey, of Napier, it will be better far, ia future, that we should hour nothing but the driest <if dry doctrinal teachings from our pulpits. — Evening Post.