GISBORNE GODLINESS.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 48, 12 September 1885, Page 2

GISBORNE GODLINESS.

Under the above heading the following appears in the Auckland Rationalist: — “ Christianity here purgeth itself, and there is strife amongst the worshippers. A new Church is born unto us, and il

happened in this wise: The shepherd of a certain flock was overworked ; for behold, it was the time for mustering the sheep, and in this country the scab prevaileth, and this aforesaid flock may or may not have been tainted, bu. the shepherd was a weary, and took unto himself an assistant. And Id ! all things for a time were well with the shepherd and the assistant. And as time passed the assistant followed after strange Gods, and passed through the fire unto Moloch, even in company with the idolatrous tribes of the Salvation Army. And they were hooted of the mob for Jesus; and they were pelted with the ancient egg for Jesus. Moreover, the assistant was beloved of the Salvation Army followers, and men cried: ‘ See, our beloved liketh the odor of the rotten egg, and singeth full loudly, and talketh with a loud talk, and is not afraid.’ And these words were brought unto the ears of the Elder, and he hated the assistant, beloved of the larrikins, and was sore jealous of him. And he spoke unto the young man, his assistant, saying, ‘ The Lord hath need of thee—go South.’ And he went even unto the city called I Napier. And no man had need of him ! in the city called Napier, and he came j back here full of wrath. And when he 1 saw that the old man had sent him I away because that he was jealous, he forsook the Gods of that old man, even the Gods of the Presbyterian, and took unto himself a Congregational God. And he spoke with a loud spoke; and he howled with a loud howl. And it catne to pass that the people forsook the Gods of the old man, even the Presbyterian Gods, and cleaved unto the young man’s God, even the Congregational God. And the old man was exceeding wrath, and he curseth bitterly, and blasphemeth the God of the young man. And the old man, even to this day, taketh counsel with the other elders that a new church may be built; and behold in this City of Gisborne, half of the habitations are churches, and the other half are wine shops. These are the words spoken by the prophet.— Jeremiah, Jr ”