Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1181, 19 September 1885, Page 3

Correspondence.

DANCING V. GAMBLING. ,'."". " (To the Editor.) 'g, , , "*> . SIB,— In reply to your correspondent "Anti-Humbug"— (by-the-way, he should drop the prefix "Anti" from his name) —l notice he designates mo a Pharisee, and lays Pharisaism is characteristic of " true blues." I can safely pass orer the term Pharisee, as it is quite irrelevant; and as to being a "true bine,'* I glory in ;i>, because Ftakd^the torm "true/ blui" to mjsan all\hat^Ohrist»h a£d Presbyterian should be. There was ! a sect in the time of our Lord known by the name of Sadueeei, whose characteristic features were loose' living and denial of a place of future punishment. ' Would " Anti-Humbug " admit he ha» anything in common with such a sect ? I am jrlid " Anti-Humbug M hu seen his own inconsistency in condemning church gambling while,' at the- same time, he had' in his possession a ticket for the art Union. Does " AntiHumbug" mean to aay the compilers of tbe Revised Veriion do not admit there is a place of torment where' the ungodly reap their due rewaTd ? If so, I say it is a slander : while, at the same time, it would be a comfortable doctrine for those who are not yet in' the narrow way. As to Presbyterian ministers giving private dances in theic own manses', does " Anti- Humbug " think I should be toned down by that consideration ? No • Ido not take any minuter or body of ministers as my rule of faith and practice. I take the Word of God, which is alone theinfallable rule, any departure from which is even more condemnable in the minister. As to the quotation from.' Frof&sojr Salmond and "Anti« Humbug's" application .of it to be, it is indeed a very small mutter to toe that I should be judged by his standard. I can find enough enjoyment in these amusements; which God ij|ll approve and ble« ; bit the persorwjio rtaujreV the quadrille with>S;rtts kindred associations, to re'ieVe the glojini of thrir spirits* must be morbid indeed, And I do guy the man is not a Christian out and out who looks one way and -'rows another, who holds mem berth ip in the Churoh tod, at

the i&me time, practises the vines which are calling for the judgment of Heaven on our land — I roptat it, is not worthy of the name Christian, -r-I am, &c, A Presbytbbian.