The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 6, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 517, 6 September 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 6, 1871.

s'ov Hie cause that lacks .assistance, [■'or tin; wrong that needs resistance, Fto th<; future in tlie distance,;

And the good that WO can do."

The temptation to attack a brother minisLer was, as wo anticipated, too raueli for the .Rev. Siunuol Edger to refrain from preaching on the subject of "The Water made Wine." "\Vo should perhaps have lofb this clerical Barmun to the exercise of his habit of reviling other minister!*, in order to elevate himself in the eyes of his followers, had lie confined himself to his peculiar work ; bub when he slops out of "his sphere, and attacks the Press, he cannot expect that his clerical garb will protect him from the castigation which he deserves. Mr. Edger has deemed ifc right, in public assembly, to attack the Evening Star, and so attempt to prejudice the people against this journal, a large proportion of whom is included doubtless among our supporters. We had felt called upon to defend the Rev. Warlow Davies against an attack made upon him by the rabid fanatics who have bound themselves to drink nothing but water, and hurl denunciations against all decent people who can trust themselves to the moderate use of the good gifts of nature. \\ re did so purely from a desire for fair play, and not from bias, bein^ persoually unacquainted with Mr. Davies, but the praise of any minister is gall and wormwood to the soul of Mr. Edger, who trios to persuade his people that he is the only faithful pastor and saintly man in the city. Mr. Edger, who ostentatiously professes the light of every man to his own opinion, characterised the article in the Stab as " the most senseless and silly that he had ever read," and stated that the theory advocated was " absurd." " Senseless" we protest we never are, hut, on the contrary, pride ourselves ill hitting the nail on the head with a direct firm stroke ; and though we unbend our dignity at times, on the old classic principle, dulce est insanire in loco, and may be merry, we protest we do nob descend to ''silliness." Wo shall not retort on Mr. Edger, and charge him with want of sense. Mr. Edger has all his wits about him, and knows how many beans make five, lie has that highest perfection of a sensible man, a thorough knowledge of human nature. llis congregation consists of those who have either been expelled from other churches, or who have made the place so hot for themselves that they did not find it agreeable to remain, and accordingly have betaken themselves to his tabernacle as to a Cave of Adullam. Mr. Edger has taken the measure of his people. He has seen that the common principle that has bound them together is a hatred of other churches and other ministers, and he never ceases to flatter the humour by showing how unfaithful and even sinful all other ministers are. He has even taken to the Press, and harping on the circumstance that ministers' sons have often turned out wild, he maintains the theory that this has arisen invariably from these sons having been enabled to peep behind the scenes and witness the moral corruption festering in secret in tho general ministerial, character. Mr. Edger, we presume, has no sous, so that he feels safe in proposing this test of clerical character, but wo have he;ird him on a public platform in the City Hall, in the most indelicate manner, parade the worthiness of his daughters, doubtless with the twofold view of proving the purity of the parental character, and offering them as an eligible investment in the matrimonial market. Mr. ledger's thirst for clerical blood even impelled him to lay sacrilegious hands on the memory of the sainted .Draper ; arid from the fact that that good man's son is now in penal servitude, he deduced the conclusion that the religion of thel Eev. Mr. Draper was but a hollow profession. Those who have known the career of tho President of the Wesleyan Connexion in . Australia whose melancholy drowning in the ' London ' thrilled the religious world believe that if ever there was a man in modern times fitted to follow Enoch without bearing the common lot, it was the venerable Mr. Draper. And yet the memory of that sainted man has been bedraggled in the mud to elevate Mr. Edger in the eyes of the Adullamites. Pity we have not a son of the house of Edger to come forth and tell us of the parental private chuckle over the pecuniary success of the depreciation of ministerial characters. We venture to say there is no other minister in the city that has struck such a golden vein in human nature. Far from us indeed be the thought of retorting on Mr. Edger the charge of " senseless." He has great common sense, and having struck out a method of his own of squeezing gold out of the G-ospel, he deserves success. It is not many ministers of religion that have the courage to imitate the great Jiarnum; but as Mr. Edger hopes to " draw" by exhibiting Gospel tumbling, wo recommend him to leave the Press alone. We are prepared for fair criticism of our views, and shall treat such with deference and respect; and more so if it emanates from religious circles But if a minister uses carnal weapons, and becomes abusive, and calls us

" senseless and silly," we waive for the time the question at issue and parry his thrust. We shall return to the subject.