THE REV. J. K. ARCHER'S STRICTURES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 8

THE REV. J. K. ARCHER'S STRICTURES

Sir,—l read the liew Mr. Archer's letter to The Dominion re the ICelburn raid, end one could not help noticing the ■ Christian spirit (hat was showing up in every line. Just fancy it: being good that someone va.s punished, and good that the punishment was imprisonment! ltemember the words of the Preacher, "Blessed are the merciful." Both women are somebody's daughters, and imprisonment never yet improved anyone's moral fibre. It has long been recognised that imprisonment for a first offencs does more to destroy the good that is in the offenders than improve them. I should like (o jog Air. flier's memory. Not very long ago a Baptist minister was guilty of a grossly immoral offence, showing that he was far lower in the moral scale than these two women, but. there was not a quarter of the fuss made abouit it, and only half the, sentence passed on him. Furthermore, T did not: see n, letter to the Press from Mr. Archer condemning the guilty one and commending the Magistrate. Be more charitable. We none of us can afford demand severe punishment for our "unfortunate sisters and then gloat, over it, It may be Christian to do so, but it does not appeal to the ordinary individual.—l am, etc., A HEATHEN.