CORRESPONDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE

Letters must be written In ink and on one tide of the paper. Unless a signature, not necessarily for publication, accompanies a letter as a guarantee of good faith it will not be considered. An asterisk attached to the signature to a published letter denotes that some portion has been deleted by the Editor, a right which is’ exercised in questions of public policy, libel, good taste and fair play. THE TOWN ENGINEER’S APPOINTMENT. To the Editor. Sir, —The recent publication of the letters written by Councillor Miller and myself seems to have given Councillor Farrant some concern. At the last meeting of the council he made an attempt to discredit our action in writing to the Press concerning the appointment of the engineer. He was however denied the privilege of completing .his denunciation of what he termed an “indiscretion.” I had no intention of further ventilating the matter per medium of the Press but as Councillor Farrant secured a certain amount of latitude in saying what he did, I take this opportunity of stating in reply that I am quite capable of looking after number one and at the same time can exercise my own judgment as to what information should or should not be brought under public notice. The question was, in my opinion, of such vital importance, that I considered the public were entitled to know where individual councillors including myself, stood, in regard to this important appointment. The article in question was therefore written to serve that particular purpose. —I am, G. R. COOPER. ‘TRESBYTERIAN’S” QUEST. To the Editor. Sir—Being a Scottish Presbyterian myself, my heart warms to “Presbyterian.” The questions he asks about the Sabbath, however, surprise me. I can hardly imagine a Presbyterian asking these questions. They have set me wondering, is he really a Presbyterian or is he a make believe I If the latter, I agree that when selecting cover for his disguise he is wise in choosing the best quality, it adds tone. Another thing that makes me wonder is “Presbyterian’s” afilure to grasp the British-Israel identifications. If he is a Scotsman (as I naturally assume he is) I cannot understand this because it is notorious that Scotsmen, the world over, are on top where brains count. It may be, of course, that he is not interested or he may be biassed, and “there’s nane sae biin as he who winna see.” “Presbyterian” asks which is the Sabbath day, the first or the seventh? Well, it depends. If he is a Jew’ or a Seventh Day Adventist, for him it will be the seventh. If he is a Presbyterian then he knows his Sunday. I have already pointed out that under the Mosaic law the seventh day was the Sabbath, but under the Christian dispensation the first day is the Sabbath or Lord’s Day, because our Saviour rose /from the grave on that day. I would counsel “Presbyterian” not to bother his head about fine ponits in regard to the first or seventh day, because, judging by his landing “nowhere” after “studying” all the BritishIsrael correspondence, I can see that his head was not made for thinking. If “Presbyterian” observes our Sunday, he is keeping the Bible Sabbath in spirit, and that is everything. Remember the conversation at the Well of Samaria. The woman said, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain but ye say that Jerusalem is the place where man ought to worship.” Jesus answered her, “The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth’." You see the place did not count, it was the spirit in which worship was conducted that counted. So with the Sabbath, whether the seventh or first day is quite secondary, it is the spirit in which it is observed that is of consequence. Always bear in mind, that “the letter killeth,” it is the “Spirit that giveth life.” That is where the Pharisees failed, they were sticklers for the letter of the law. Jesus roundly upbraided them time and again. But why write to the Press for his information, where there might be a repetition of his former experience in which he “seemed to get to a place called nowhere,” if he is really a Presbyterian, he should call on his minister, and for information on his last query, why not have a talk with Monsignor Burke? These gentlemen, gauging his mental calibre, will advise him in language suited to his mental uptake. I am, etc., BIBLE STUDENT.