FICTION VERSUS FACT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 217, 22 June 1877, Page 11

FICTION VERSUS FACT.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet. Sib, — The public will know what to think of the contributions of your correspondent " Rathkealensis," by the following comparison between Fiction and Fact. 1. Fiction. — " Rathkealensis" says in your issue of June 16, " It trill he seen that theirs (the people of Christchurch) is no childish longing, when they say that they have not had the Sacrament of Confirmation administered in the parish since it teas given by his Lordship Bishop Moran about four years ngo." 2. Fact. — We have been two years in the diocese of "Wellington, and during that time we have administered Confirmation three times in the parish of Christchurch, once solemnly to a large number of children and adults (as we presume your columns will report this vreek), and twice to children and adults ■who could not easily wait for the geiferal Confirmation. In postponing this latter ceremony wehad.it seems, the misfortune not to consult the wisdom of " Rathkealensis." What we have done at Christchurch we have also done in other parts of Canterbury; for instance at Timaru, where Confirmation has been given three times in four years, once by the Bishop of Dunedin and twice by the Bishop of Wellington. Before "Rathkealensis " again inflicts his dull thoughts and presumptuous advice on your readerß, we hope he will have some regard to truth. Meanwhile we deeply regret that the sincere columns of the Tablet have been, unwittingly, the .means of circulating gross and injurious falsehoods. We remain, <fee, t Feancis Redwood, Bishop of Wellington. Christchurcli, June 18, 1877. [We knew the statement referred to was not true, and put our pen ticroßS it wlien correcting the proofs, in the usual way, to signify to the printer that it should not be published. Notwithstanding our precaution the statement was published. The publication has been made euiiiely ngnm&t our \rill and directions, and we were and are exceedingly soi ry thut such a mistake should have taken place. We beg to apologise to his Loidaliip, Dr. Redwood, and a*k him to pardon % misiuke fir which we ure not, we think, responsible under th» circumstances. — Ed. If.Z.T.]