Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 6

Public Opinion

THAT CLOCK Sir, —Seeing that Air N. G. Armstrong is elected Mayor oi Wanganui could he inform the electors of Wanganui what he intends to do with the clock (he spoke so much of during his election campaign) that Air Rogers was supposed to hdvc bought out of the Coun cil money.—l am, etc., A LABOURITE. (Mr N. G. Armstrong never once mentioned the clock referred to either before, during or since the municipal campaign.—Editor.) THIRD CLASS LAMBS Sir, —The Waverley A. and P. As sociation has passed a resolution protesting against the exporting of third class lambs. I am enclosing an address of Air J. C. Cooper’s views which I hope you will publish. (Mr Cooper’s knowledge ami experience are second to none in regard to the meat, market). I can quite understand the settlers in the front country wanting to do away with the export, of third-grade lambs. You see, Sir, they stock lightly (see returns given in for the rabbit rate) and frequently buy forward delivery to fill the places of their own when killed. If they can get the Government to prohibit the export of third-grade lambs, they do away with the competition of export buyers that deal in that class of lamb and it. will penalise the back country settlers. As the enclosed states, Alr Cooper is prepared to debate the question with the chairman qf the Meat Board that it is no detriment to the lamb trade to export third-grade lamb, so why let another country get the market?—l am, etc., F. O. MAITTHEWS. RATIONALISM AND CHRISTIANITY Sir, —With further reference to the letter of “Truth and Reason” in a recent issue of your paper, one wishes to know what lies behind the Rationalist’s attack on Christianity from time to time. jji the present correspondence there appear-’ an indication when your correspondent states: “ w\v should you compel us free thinkers to share the upkeep of your illusion.” Tha* statement, Air Editor, so far as Now Zealand is concerned, is incorrect. Nobody is compelled to support any Church in this country, and should religious teaching be admitted to our eductional system, no doubt a clause would bo inserted to protect thfc conscience of Rationalists, etc., as is dohe in other countries where the Church is established by law. He also states that he does not wish to interfere with Church work at all. Why then, Air Editor, these recurring attacks? With regard to the history of the canon of Scripture, here again “Truth and Reason” is incorrect. He says, ”Very few people knew them’’ and ‘‘that 99 per cent, of preachers are ignorant of them.”

There is r#o excuse for the first statement foT many tomes and dictionaries are available for everyone to read and study, and so far as the English Church and Free Church clergy are concerned, any period up to seven years is required for the study of these points before a man is ordained on probation, and such studies are obtained in the numerous Theological Colleges. So far as I am concerned, my knowledge is from personal experience of many years, not in Wanganui, but *.n London under many of the most distinguished preachers of the time. Alen like Canon Farrer, the Bishop of Lon don, Canon R. J. Campbell, first prize man on honours of Oxford University Bishop Gore, the late Rev. Ur. Dallinger D.Sc.. F.R.8., etc., and most learned scientist and fellow of the Royal Society. Dr. W. E. Orchard, D.D.. and many others, as well as a study of men like Professor Harnack. I have also studied works of mon like Blatchford. Renan, G. B. Shaw, G. Al. E. Joad, Joseph McCabe, etc., and I do not think that I. am biassed jn my opinion, or that I am 7tot capable of forming a fairly good opinion on the subject. The remarkable fact. Mr Editor, is that in spite of the legends, the myths, etc. Christianity, not Churchianity, is still very virile am) it will still he going in

3000 years’ time. As to Christianity dying, this statement has been made for many years, right from Bradlaugh’® and Ingersoll’s time, and yet it is still here. As to the statenier* regarding prosperity under Pagan Rome, etc., surely, “Truth and Reason’’ should know’ that, with such prosperity conics a moral canker, owing to the lack of spiritual power. Pagan Rome fell. From the same reason Greece fell, and the same will befall any nation that places national pleasures and prosperity before high character and true religion. It is noteworthy to find that educationalists, even in Now Zealand, are coming to the conclusion that the eliniintion of religion from school teaching is not a good thing. The high<’<t eductional authorities in England, like Dr. Norwood, headmaster of one of the greatest public schools in England, state that no education d system ;s sound unless religion in taken as one of tho subjects. Even Professor Aide no Huxley and men like him have to admit the necessity of religion as stated in “The Out line,’’ a weekly journal row incorporated with “John o’ London’s Weekly.'’ The only question left is “What religion,” and so far as the white people are concerned there is only one answer. “Truth Reason” is out for truth as against superstition, and so far as I know the answer is gir on by the Alnster Himself when he said. “I am the Wav’, the Truth and the Life.” The Churches may fa ', but Christianity being a life-giving force, will ever survive; you cannot destroy the indestructible, and that is ( hristianity free of all superstition, myth and anything else. As to my preposterous statement, re loose morals, mv statement is based on tho letter of his Holiness the Pope to his clergy and people recently, so that is not so preposterous as your correspondent Thanking you. Sir, and the length of this letter. MARCUS JAMES. | Thi> correspondence is now closed.--Editor. 1