Correspondence.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 328, 30 October 1875, Page 3

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I regret that a lot for characterised bv such a spirit of uncontrolled moan envy and jealousy as that signed by “ Working Man” should have appeared in your columns, the object of which is evidently to get ?up a pretended grievance in order to afford himself and others the desired pretest and excuse for contributing nothing towards the expenses of the new church. The announcement that the seats would be allotted in the way carried out according to priority of choice bj lot was made several weeks ago. Why, then, did not Working Man” state his objections in time ? There were go ( d reasons for not having the day fixed for Saturday, that being the day of the arrival of tire steamer; nor could the hour have been fixed later in the day on account of the shortness of the days at this time of year. It was not necessary for “ Working Men” to attend in person or to leave his work, as the advertisement stated “applicants must attend in person or by deputy.” Why did not “Working Man” send his wife, or depute some person to choose for him ? I am glad to say that several working mm, and several working men's wives, did attend. 1 deny most distinctly that the drawing for seats was a hole and corner affair, as falsely stated tj) kf b/“ Working Man,” the announcement having been made by public twice inserted in the Bay OR Plenty Times, to which public attention was called in the local columns. ,l Working Man” seems to be ignorant that the Vestry hare full power and authority to make and carry out arrangements for the distribut ion of seats :n the church without railing a public meeting ; neither does a public meotdng always truly express the wishes of the public. “ Working Man” speaks of the Ves.'.ry as proud and arrogant people who ignore him, knowing full well that the incumbent of the Parish himself I is their chairman. I have no hesitation in saying that nil the pride and arrogancy, and that of the most offensive description, is on i his side. Not more than 100 out of the R4B sittings in the church were taken up the first day,'and there have been plenty more to ‘ choose from sitme. Out of the whole number one sixth of the whole are declared free seats. The sittings are all alike in every respect throughout the church, the only difference , being in respect, pf position. As to the prinei- : pie of drawing lots for priority of choice it is ' one plainly recognised in the Bible, the , Apostles having drawn lots for filling the ■ vacant Apugtleship. Vide also Proverbs, ; xvi., 33 : “The lot is cast into the lap, but j the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.” To stigmatiV the drawing which took place < as a n.fflc' is a purposely false and mischievous . -j statement, the drawing having been made fur , priority of selection only, the price for each idling having been fixed at a uniform rate beforehand. The Vestry by the arrangement 1 they made placed themselves and their friends *

on a perfrcfc equality with “ Working Man Another writer, “ A Doubter Evermore,” has the Imrcuhoon ami a*»uranee to state that ho was atlmcled by an advertisement to the effect. “ that a lottery would redrawn h the nt-w church, ** &<'■■ This 1 eon only char etc iso as a most barefaced falsehood. I atn informed on good authority that the drawing for seats in a new church at Geelong, when 300$ things were allotted a once, look place in precisely the same manner, and that without a murmur of dissent, so that precedents for the course taken by the Vestry in this case are not want* ing. Sir, it is to be hoped that these pseudo complaints are the product of an exceptionally morose and jealous disposition, otherwise one might despair tor ever of obtaining anything like peace and unity of feeling in our community, —1 am, Ac., Aux. Totey, Churchwarden, Taurnnga, October 2f?, 1875.

■ TO THE nm OH Sm, —You ask for two letters fluent Chureli matters. I semi yon a hoticd one. The poor or working man's sell res pent is best evinced by the respect he shows, oven in a church, to those social distinctions that arc fur the wellbeing of society. See Tom Hood's serious poems, page 59 ; 11 If their offence be rank should mine be rancour P” Let those of rank read page u-4 : “ One place there is the fane of God, k d --1 am, Tours as you use him, Thr SrnvNX. ['This correspondence is closed —<• l).j - A-