Cathedral Courtesies.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7067, 20 January 1891, Page 3

Cathedral Courtesies.

TO THE EDITOR. i Sir, — Your City of Christchurch has the i reputation of being the most conservative i of all the cities of Australasia in its social ; life. Such ia not my experience, nor i should I, were it my experience, have any , right to complain. Ladies and gentlemen ' have a perfect right to choose their as- , sociates, but when demeanour, which : would tend to confirm this, is carried into . what we understand as the House of God, I claim the right of a worshipper to take exception to such demeanour. I have had the pleasure and privilege to worship with Christians in all parts of the world, and with all denominations, and, as a member of what is understood as the Church of England, I protest against the conduct of those ' those who regularly worship where His Lordship the Bishop preaches. This evening I, in company with ladies, all strangers, were courteously shown into a j seat, where were no names, apparently no owner. A prayer-book and hymn-book were in the seat, which the ladies took up and were using, when a man walked up and took the books from their hands, saying, " You have my prayer-book and hymn- ' book." This, of course, he had a right to do, but I and the ladies during the whole service rose to the singing, psalms and hymns, no one offering us a book of any : kind. The preacher'B text, " How , sought ye Me," evidently was, and ' is, not considered by those who are commanded to go out into the highway for the wayfarer and strangers, if they treat them aa the writer and his friends were. I can understand that in large cities there ; may be fear of thieves, but when for a few shillings common prayer and hymn books j can be bought and branded with the name i

of the church, there need be no fear of this happening. Do not the preachers and ushers know that they have invited strangers to this city who are not worshippers with us yet, who would be pleased and profited by hearing his Lordship and clergy, but who will not carry away many gcod impressions of our church if my experience is a sample accorded to fellowworshippers ? Churchmen, kindly see that strangers are attended to and oblige a fellow member, although a stranger with you, and GLOBE TROTTER.

The Iron Horse. — Washington has been called the Mecca of American wheelmen, for everybody in the capital rides the iron horse, from legislators down to coloured clam-diggers. " Bike" is the slang term in use there for bicycle, a constant procession of which passes through Pennsylvania avenue. Lady clerks are as prone to its use as men. It is estimated that there are nearly 6000 riders in the city who use wheels and regularly ride them.

Amatbtjb Athletic Championship Meeting. — The Hawke'B Bay Amateur Athletic Club will not be represented at the athletic championship meeting at Auckland, owing to J. H. Hempton being unable to go North through illness. N. Hall, A. C. Wilmofc, W. J. S. Hayward aild P. Ledeham will represent the Pioneer and North Canterbury Bicyole Clubs in the bioycle championships at the meeting. Moat of the Canterbury competitors leave Lyttelton by the Tafcapuua on Jan. 29.