DESERVED DAMNATION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13461, 5 July 1912, Page 3

DESERVED DAMNATION.

The Rev. Alexander McCallum, of Victoria, one of the speakers at the annual meeting of the Central Methodist Mission in the Town Hall, at Melbourne, a few days ago, told a remarkable story, which may not have been without som« effect on his hearers. He was deploring th«."want of welcome" to children when they crossed the

threshold- of life, and proceeded to illtistrate the story by saj'ing that one morning he received a message asking him to attend at the cemetery to read the service over the body of a child. Whilst waiting for the funeral he was surprised to see a cab driven up to the gate, the cabman alighted, and, taking a small coffin from his vehicle, walked towards an open grave. "The grave digger stood on ono side of the grave," said the speaker, "the cabman at the* other, and Int one end. I looked at the little box. 'Is there no woman to drop a. tear :m this baby's coffin?' I asked. The cabman muttered something, and then I understood—the child had not'been welcome. I don't know whether I was right, Your Excellency (turning to the Governor-General), but I turned to the men. "Take off your hats," I said, and then added, 'Oh, Lord, find the man who is the father of this child and damn him!'"