LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 80, 30 December 1918, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE CATHEDRAL ONCE,MORE

Sir,—Your correspondent in The Dominion of this morning, "Jonathan Swift, Junior," take* the part of those who wish to throw crkl water on tho cathedral scheme. He ivies to adopt the satirical vein of his famous prototype; and to read his letter is amusing enough were it not, calculated to lead the ignorant or unwary astray, and, moreover, to hurt the feelings el the Anglicans and . other "good" people. Your correspondent is not imbued with the spiritual, or religious sense; indeed, 1 fear he would not understand what "spiritual sense meant, and to reply categorically to his humorous points "would be to abuse the privilege of your fpace. Suffice it to say that, although born and bred a Presbyterian, 1 am none the less very desirous of aeeing the cathedral reared in Wellington, on such a scale as even to make it a "national affair." The gentlemen who have charge of the scheme would bo the Inst in the world to stoop to mean or selfish expedients to raise funds. They may have a long row to hoe if, as your correspondent fervently wishes, the expense should fall exclusively on Anglicans; but there is strong evidence that the public is largely sympathetic, and that the cathedral ie almost already an accomplished fact. Let me remiud your correspondent that . the cathedral builders and officers in medieval tiises were renowned for hospitality to the poor, and their modern disciples are just the sort of folk who can spare a dolo to the poor, or tend them in the sickness cf an epidemic. "Jonathan Swift, . Junior's nom-de-plume has a, comical inappropriateness. If the writer aspired to the rhetorical finesse of his illustrious ancestor, he has not attained it. Let me commend to his study, and for the enlargement of his charity, the Bean's "Argument ngainst abolishing the Christian religion." Finally, Swift's greatest disappointment in life was that he was not made a bishop with a cathedral.—l am, etc., GULLIVEE. December 28, 1918.