Correspondence.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 8, 23 June 1893, Page 21

Correspondence.

[We are not responsible for the opinions expreued by our Oocrapoodents.]

BLUFF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND

HON. J. G. WARD.

TO THB EDITOB N.Z. TABLET.

Sib,— The foundation-stone of a new Presbyterian church at the Bluff has been laid by the Hon J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General of N.Z. I Bhould like to know whether the hon gentleman on this occasion acted in his Ministerial capacity or as a private individual. It is bot right, reasonable, and jußt that a feeling of fellowship and amity should exist between the various denomination! in our community, but tbe line should be drawn somewhere. More than one Mayor of Invercargill refused to open a Roman Catholic bazaar. Now a bazaar or a guild being an appeal to the public in order to raise funds for some laudable or charitable object, and generally held in a pnblic hall, is not, strictly speaking, an exclusively sectarian affair. I heartily approved of the action of Mr Ward in opening St John's Guild. The Colonial Treasurer's performance of the function of laying the foundation-stone of a sectarian church has, however, given offence to a large portion of the community, especially to bis own co-religionists. Mr Ward inform! the pnblic that he spent much of bis school time in playing marbles. Had he but devoted a little time to tbe study of his catechism, he would know that such action as that per* formed by him at the Bluff is in direct contravention to the teachings of his Church. Or does the hon gentleman consider that in his insatiable thirst for popularity and his vehement desire for political power, he is justified in setting tha laws and doctrine of bis Church at naught or at defiance 7 If Mr Ward wishes to pose ai a representative Catholic, bis action is quite humiliating to his fellow* religionists. What place, in the estimation of honest Presbyterians can a man secure, who, as a Catholic, compromises his religious principles in order to gain tbe kudos or applause of a more numerous and influential denomination 1 Does Mr Ward's hon colleague, Sir Patrick Buckley, descend to such artifices ? And be is a gentleman respected and honoured by rich and poor of every denomination and of every nationality in New Zaaland.

If I ana rightly informed, .Mr Ward some time ago declined to 6ign an address of welcome presented by the Catholics of Southland to Bishop Moran on the occasion of his visit to Invercargill, on tbe grounds that such an act would not be in keeping with his official position as Postmaster-General of Maoriland , On what grounds then can the Hon J. G. Ward justify his action in laying the foundation, stone of tbe new Presbyterian church at the Bluff — a function alt a gether repugnant to tbe feelings of the Catholics of Southland? — I am, etc, Catholic. Invercargill, June 15, 1893. [The action of tbe Postmaster-General, alluded to by our correspondent, has given us considerable pain. Oar impression on hearing of tbe matter was that the Minister had been invited, with sinister motives, to perform this ceremony, by men who intended to oppose his return at the next election. Our view of the matter seems borne out by an announcement made on Monday morning in tht Otag* Daily Timet, to tbe effect that the seat will actually be contested. Bd.N.Z. Tablet.]