REV. J. H. G. CHAPPLE AND THE LIBRARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14480, 29 June 1911, Page 7

REV. J. H. G. CHAPPLE AND THE LIBRARY.

Ifl tie Editor of the "Timaru Herald."

Sir,—l cannot understand how any one with the intelligence cf an infant can imagine that it was possible for a - minister holding the views which Mr Ghapple held and promulgated from the pulpit in St. Andrews Parish and in the Press ,rf Tiniaru, to remain in a ministerial position in connection with the Presbyterian Church. When le found himself outside of the church at St. Andrews, he- had no one to blame but himself. AIL who know the whole circumstances, and who have watched his career site©, are agreeti that lie ought to have been out of St. ilhdrews Church years before. last iny reference to literature may be. overlooked through tho length of nsy sfistle, I should like to state that I rei«.r to literature published by the Rationalist Press Association—an Association that denies the existence oi Clod, and from the pen of writer*, denying the Christian faith, etc. The book towhich I referred from the pulpit, is still on the shelves of Via library, and was issued by the Rationalist Press Association. I am arms that if -members of the committee known anything of the contents. of ■» Je boot they would not tare spent moiiy on ib.. The reason trhy I never use the sngKestiOT book % as follows:—"Whan . I have a\bt»kor books to suggest, I go to member or the committee, and -__ explm to him the nature of the books, •otkiL the committee may know what -they, are choosing. Several books sug- . gastwlby ma arc to be found on this aOßlves, and I am pleased to know that tneyTjaVe been and are being used by JJ* .* few- readers. No minister or' Kbnu-ian who knows anything of the »pirit;of the" Public Library Act, or V anything of the mind of the donor of : theJ'uWio Library building would sng-•:Wßtj-or encourage the suggestion, of book* peculiar to any sect m the oombeing and especially ~ n»_ connection with a Kbrarv- that is - jyy begmning its history; and-: there- - 5J* ahbnld have as many books as pos«fwe on esneral literature. Mr:Chappie received and aeoepted the ebmniission front the Old -Countryappointm s » him to all the dutSesand.responsibilities of the settled .ministry opniection . wth the TJni--.*a??an; Cbnnih, and authorising him to form « settled charge in TunaruT which' ", charge receives financial aid from i Auckland and from London, he did .noV iiesign his-position in connection ;.TRii: the Borough Council, which in any other connection would have been dtnie,'nor did he consult -Jhe Borough Council as. to whether they had any objectHins'ii'Ksundertakins an. official position in Timarn. What he aid was. : to. place on the shelves of thepublic library, not - "a religious ; book

with broadened 20th century ideas," but a book of the narrowest tjnitorianisin, the strangest passages in the book being underlined and side-marked. When the Mayor's attention was drawn to the fact, he waited on the librarian, and asked by whose authority such a book was placed on the library shelves. Ho stated tliat he received no authority, but that ho had received it as a gift from Auckland. The book was removed, and it has never appeared since. It is strange that the gift from Auckland was a. book on TJnitarianiMn, nnd not a volume of Spurgeon'e sermons. But for the complaint made, who Caii tell how many such gifts would bo adorning the shelves of the Public Library tc-clay ?

There is un old saying that no man can scrrc two masters. Wherever it has been tried there is nothing but dissatisfaction, and confusion. The business man will have nothing whatever tn do with such an . arranpement m his. private corcern. Why should it be toicratetl in connection with a public trust? A public library, vo be really well looked 'lftor is no sinecure, and if the Timaru Library, which is only in its initial stage, is to fulfil th* intention of the donor of the Publh Libnrv building, ib will require the whole thought and attention of the one in entree. —I am. etc.. A; MAC.VCLAY CAtDWBLL. Chalmers Manse. June 28th, 1911,