THE REV. MR JORDAN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 103, 27 August 1873, Page 3

THE REV. MR JORDAN.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sis,-—Will you permit me to remark through your columns that I consider the four attacks on a sermon by our clergyman ill-judged, in wretched taste, and most decidedly un-Ohristian. One letter complains of the cowardice of a pastor in rebuking his congregation from the—not pulpit “—but rostrum, where he could not be contradicted, and yet ignores the fact that a clergyman would sacrifice dignity and propriety by entering into personal disussions in the newspapers. i had not the privilege or otherwise of hearing the sermon referred to, but, judging from the letters of his censors, I conclude that Mr Jordan did no more than any faithful minister should do, in giving his individual views on a popular question. That be should now be reviled by those who ought to uphold him in the independent expression of his conscientious opinions, speaks dreadfully for the moral tone, or even good taste of some of bis parishioners. One writer—an anonymous onecalls Mr Jordan’s remarks “ cowardly,” because, forsooth, he could not be replied to on tbe spot! That correspondent had not the candour to admit that an anonymous letter in a newspaper attacking a clergyman, could not possibly be replied to by that gentleman, and the charge of cowardice ought by rights to be laid on different shoulders. That any good churchman could possibly permit himself to so degrade the priesthood by virulent and anonymous letters to a newspaper is something surprising. For myself, though a churchman, I am what my signature below indicates, and yet would sooner have sacrificed my right hand than have committed such an outrage on religious precedent and social decency as exhibited ia.any or all of the letters you first published.—l am, &c..

Stray Sheep.