"A GENERATION OF HEATHENS."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 7

"A GENERATION OF HEATHENS."

Sir, —In a recent issue of your paper 1

noticed a telegram from .Gore; under the.'-";: above heading. It appear? .that a meeting of-ministers was -held, - at which : the. sribject - ■ of Sunday sohopl attendance was discussed, .various. members-" loudlylamenting ■• that tho . oncoming ■ generation were heathena.v Now, , sir, 1, together , with another large section : of ', the: populace,'; take' strong; exception. to ; the use of such a term.. 1, presume that the religious body iu question designates. as '"heathen" all who cannot accept;their.: . doctrines and -dogmas. Mr. Gray is not justified in referring to the great: majority of'"thinking people . as. occupying a. lowei grade ;in • the : scale of humanity than . thai •» which ho" himself occupies, 'i'he church has '■ ever.' been' dogmatio, but'let me remind the. clergy that that spirit is fast dying out God has endowed man; with: a mind, and < man ia beginning to uso' that mind and . think for-himself. Will the church never rid::herself of that- intolerant spirit which has ibeen. so" characteristic of all: her. ao- . tions? Will she never, reoognise 'the . fact .: . that! those who : do not. reason with her' are nevertheless leading good, noblo lives? and ■therefore strongly object to being designated Vheathon." May I not, with equal right, look up the church as'being "heathen" be- ■ cause, she does not fall in with tho facta of..modern, science?'-But. I, will not. .level, that; charge-against.,the ancient, .institution, ■. for imy nature' i? fairly -tolerant. the r church,,would ' oply ~cease .toVcondemn vthose: who do not believe in her _ dogmas, ~. how much better we' would agree in this world! A tolerant spirit should be observed in -all .things.—! am, etc,, . _. ■ ■ , WM. H. POWELL.

y -Fending, February 18. : ,