THE PRAYER QUESTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5236, 14 December 1883, Page 2

THE PRAYER QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,— rl see by your issue of the 12th insfc.', that the Benevolent Society of this town are not agreed upon the rule of opening their meetings with prayer, and that the chairman of the Society has given notice of a motion to abolish it. The Rev Mr Treadwell opposed the resolution, stating that it was a fundamental principle- of tho Society,' and could not be done away with. Now, sir,. what does the Rev Mr Treadwell want? Does he want to keep the Catholics of this town from lending a helping hand to bestow their share of benevolence ? He knows very well that ie is not reasonable that Catholics should be asked to attend the meetings of the Bonevoleut Society so long as they are opened with prayer. X the Catholics want to pray, they have a church for that purpose, and do not want to mal e a church of the Benevolent Society's meeting room. There is a time" for prayer; and when a body of men of different sects meet together to discuss public matters, prayer should be excluded. Some time ago it was stated in your columns that the Catholic members of the society would not attend • while the meetings were opened with prayer. The Rev. Mr Treadwell is well aware of this facb, but, "dog in the manger" like, wants to keep out the Catholics. Some of the other members of the society have come to the conclusion that prayers should be' abolished, so that the Catholic members may have a say .in the distribution to the ' poor ' and needy; and' I hope they will support! the ohairman in dispensing with this' rule.-— I am. eto.. TnroaiK Tfttr,