MR. NORTH AND HIS CRITICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 5

MR. NORTH AND HIS CRITICS.

Sir,—l have read the letters on. both' sides, and the difference is this: The ono is on the side of right, and the other on the side of wrong. The Rev. Mr. North both in the pulpit, in the press, and in his life teaches righteousness. His critics try to make gambling of all sorts appear like righteousness but how far they aro believed it is hard to say. 1 have been taught to believe, and do believe, that there are two great flowers in the world; One called gcod, at the head of which stands the Almightv, and the other called evil, at the head of which stands the devil, also mighty, but not all-mighty; that the whole human race range themselves under one or other of these great powers. Let -Mr. North's critics ask themselvea which master they are serving. It may be, they are ashamed of their master. If so, it is a small compliment to him. If he is worth serving, they ought to boproud of him and acknowledge their lovaltv to him. On the other hand, it.is true there are many wiio serve God, but are ashamed to acknowledge the fact, and would blush if someone said they did. Well, neither party can be complimented. In the ease of Mr. North and his critics, there is not much trouble to discover who is captain and leader of each side. There arc others, again, who servo the devil vigorously for a time, and then desert him, as" in the case of St. Paul. There arc these, too, who serve God for a time, and then desert him, as Judas lscarint did. ' As there are only two places, or stales, after this, life, believed in by the majority of mankind, it would be as well for Mr. North's critics to make quite sure about their master.— 1 am, etc., COLD WATER. Sir,—As an Englishman, some short time resident in New Zealand, I have been very much surprised at the_ riictalorial attitude taken up by the Nonconformist churches, in regard to what they are plcas-c-d In term the gambling evil. On every available occasion the Rev. Mr. North, "or oik- of his uliowing, rushes into prim, oi waylays n Minister of tha Crown, in a vain endeavour to force on. tho people of New Zealand a return of the eld Puritan era, when all forms of amuH-mcnt were considered a crime. ' Another lioinl that has struck me, as a comparative stranger to New Zealand, is that this iwrpotual agitation about gambliiK! i> tdmivl soloh confined to a few Nonconformist divines and. their iit-nehm:n. Is this due to the peculiar \v:ir:i in the Nonconformist conscience that leads its- adherents to avoid any ••übieet unless it is a politico-religious one' and affords them an opportunity to shine in the limelight? Or is it. as Mt. Xc! fft would have us believe, fine sololv to their desire for the spiritual and temporal advancement of tho masses? ft fir this- latter etiuse where, I ask. are the oilier leaders of religions thought in this matter? Notably the Anglican and Roman Ca'hilie. who are admittedly as keen and zealous in tin- service of their flocks as Mr. North in his.—l am. etc.. ENGLISHMAN. [Portion of this letter has been onrife ted.l