CAMBRIANS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 944, 21 May 1880, Page 3

CAMBRIANS.

(FROM OUP. OWN COKUESPOSDF.XT.) Mr John Beattie, formerly of German Hill, about the new year, commenced business at Crmbrian’s, (Welshman’s Gully) as butcher and hotel-keeper, and in both businesses he is doing a good trade. Residents lately remarked that, on no previous occasion such a highly respectable exhibition of meat bad been seen, as was the case on a recent Saturday, in the butchers shop connected with the “ Welsh Harp ” Hotel. Mr and Mis Beatties civil manner and kindly attention to the wants of their cus turners, are wringing, for the amiable couple, golden opinions from all sorts of people—Mr and Mrs Beattie not unfrequently receive visits from their old friends at Blacks and German Hill. Messrs Lecce and MMntosh (both missionaries) have left us—both gentlemen having worked very hard at Blacks, Drybread, Cambria, and o'her places. Mr Leece has gone to New England in New South Wales to fullil an engagement which has boon more than once offered to him. He delivered a free Lecture on Astronomy before bis departure. A few months ago he delivered a lecture on “ Havelock.”—He left the impression on onr minds, that if he devoted himself to lectures, ho would bo thoroughly successful. The Astronomical lecture, especially evidenced that he was conversant with that aublime subject. Mr Eneas Mackintosh, who is not more than 25 years of age, gave evidence of piety, scholarship, and general mental culture. Kis sermons were remarkable for accurate logic, elegant and forcible phraseology, attractive illustrations—and were in line, in my opinion, the pro luet of a fervent faith, a lively hope, and a charity, broad and deep. Mr Mackintosh has eutered the Otago Theological Hall 1 wish him every success —I do not like to use the word “ professional ” in connection with religion ; but, in the absence of a more appropriate worn. I am compile 1 to say that wo, now, have only one “professional” minister—namely the Rev, John Hobb, Church of England minister of Naseby. (1 see that the organ of the Angd an Now Zealand C.mroh strongly and I think currently objects to the Title “ Church of England when applied to the protestant episcopal Church off New Ze ilaud). Very few people in Cambrians belong to the Anglician Communion an I if the Presbyterians and Wesleyans absented thcm;elves from the Anglican services, many empty scats would ho the result. A number of persons amongst whom are a few episcopalians, object to Mr Hobbs incessant praise of the the Church of England. The worst, in my opinion, that can bo said against Mr Hobbs’ habitual eulogy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, is that, it is contrary to the spirit of the Church of England itself. It is certainly contrary to both the letter and spirit of the preaching of the great Daniel Moody. Mr Hobbs has some excellent qualities, hut he should remember that however good the Church of Eng and Common prayer book may bo, there are excellent men and women, good husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, citizens, who probably have never read one line of that excellent compilation ; and I am hazardous enough to say that if I fail to reach heaven ray failure will not he due to my not having rea l the book in question. Good as it is. it is not perfection. Any book that will pi ay that the Queen may in “wealth and health” live. long, is manifestly opposed to that scripture which tolls ns that it is eader for a cable (not “camel”) to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 1 ace Mr Hobbs objected to hot cross bums on good Friday—evidently ho has never starved When, like me, he is reduced so low as to bo compelled to roast the gold fish, boil the canary, and hunger for rat soup and mice stew—then ho will eat hot cross buns on every day in the week. Mr Hobbs is a manly English gentleman, but he )is not perfect. 11c should take a sea voyage, live four months on dry biscuits, bo washed ashore on a desert island, and live in a cave with a few penguins. Then, perhaps, ho would see that there is a world outside the Common Prayer Book, where Bishops are unknown, and whore every day there is baptism by immersion. That

nominally sour place Vinegar Plat is a sweet abode of the golden god for Messrs Learmont, Mills and Co. Humour says that their second washing up is quite equal to their first.

[We havo been compelled, through the want of space to curtail aur correspondent’s letter, hut shall finish the same in our next issue ]