BISHOP WALLIS IN EXPLANATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8626, 7 December 1906, Page 2

BISHOP WALLIS IN EXPLANATION.

«, His Speech at the Anglican Congress. — "W What Was Actually Said. The following letter appeared in last night's Post: — Sik,—l gather from a Sydney newspaper which I have seen this morning that words of mine spoken at the Melbourne Church Congress last week have caused some perplexity, and possibly also some irritation, in New Zealand. Will you be so kind therefore as to find a place for this letter in your columns, that it may be known what I really said ? The subject we were discussing was '• Obstacles to Religion in Australia." In the course of the discussion I stated that the roost formidable obstacles in my own colony were the growing scarcity of religious instruction in our homes, and the total absence of religious instruction from the curriculum of our State Fchools; and that in consequence, despite all the efforts of Christian ministers, a large part of our population was becoming heathen. I believe this statement to be absolutely true, and have made it again and again in New Zealand. I had no thought of comparing the religious life in our colony witk that in Australia, of which I know next' nothing; nor was I speaking unjustly or ungenerously of a land which has been my home for nearly twelve years, and has become very dear to me.—l am, etc.. FREDERICK WELLINGTON. (Bishop). Sydney, 27th November. 1906. _________