CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3678, 28 April 1883, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THOU ART PETER AND UPON THAT ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir,— These last few days I have read in your paper a number of letters about " Saint George," and yesternight I noticed a quotation from the French in one of them signed "Quintilianus." It runs thus: "Tv ex T'wrre vt nur cette pienr, &c," which in English is: "Thou art Peter, and upon that rock, &c." The French word "pierrc" means in English "Peter" and also "stone." The French version is correct, and makes a beautiful dotihJc entente. Jesus never meant "Peter" but rock or stone ;he did use the word figuratively, making allusion to the strong mind of Peter. Should Jesus have meant " Peter " lie would have said "Peter! upon this rock I Avill build my Church." The complete sentence in French is " Jesus il.'d a Tin-re : tit- ex plerre e-t sur cctte picnr jl bnt-i.rni won Ei/Use." The French added as an amen " enpierre, ,, meaning literally in English " Jesus said unto Peter : Thou art rock, and upon that rock I will build my Church." The French added "of rock " ; in New Zealand we should say of "wood."

Now, Sir, I can't help saying a few words concerning " Saint George." Three or four Avritcrs have given their opinions in your columns. Notwithstanding there is still much more confusion left in the minds of your readers, the cloud seeming to me to have thickened, I will try to scatter it. Saint George was the son of his mother! nobody could find fault with that—and hi.s mother was one of the wives of his father ; this is true enough. His father's name was Gelasius Ariauis ; this George must be the Arian one. One of your correspondents said that the George of his opponent was born 200 years after he died ; this must be the wrong George. If one is curious to know how I found the truth I will tell him or her the secret. I added the age of the authorities quoted, from Gibbon down to Cyprian, I divided the total by the number thirteen, and got right enough the true George, patron of the bankers!!! As another illustration I will tell you, Sir, perhaps what you don't know : Rothschild, tho old one, who was a superstitious fellow, did choose his residence in " the Jluc St. Gcori/ex "at Paris What do you think of that,' Sir:- I venture to hope that the second part of this letter will reconciliate all parties concerned, and set at rest the minds of your readers. —I am, &c, Jkeiciio. April 27, 1883,