REV. MR. CAMPBELL’S LECTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 3136, 8 March 1873, Page 2

REV. MR. CAMPBELL’S LECTURE.

To the Editor.

Sir,—! regret to say I was one of the few present at the Rev. J. A Campbell’s lecture last evening in the First Church, A more puerile “ vamped up” lecture I never heard. The Rev. gentleman divided his lecture into three parts : Ist, A young man's religion; 2nd, his occupation ; Jrd, bis future homo and wife. Now, for the first, Mr Campbell save a man must have some belief; —this is simply riiiiculouii, and d.iplays great ignorance of man as he exists in’thy nineteen‘h century. Thousands of our follow-men have no belief, they have a disbelief. What do Atheists believe?-Nothing ! He also said that the Presbyterian ministry would not allow the name of Jesus Christ to he used lightly, Ac.,--in fact, they would squash Umtarianisiti By the force d their veto. What about Dr, Dumbs very sfcpsifyle lee turo U’t Sunday on Jesus Christ, thp man * Our valiant clergy a r e afraid to take up the cudgels against the Doctor on this point j yet they say they will not allow what is done under their noses every day ! He also said that it was not the clergy’s place to defend their faith ! What next ? They left it to the literary men—the imm whose noble profession the Rev. gentleman ran down as far as be could, with his mediocre ability ?

As to a young man’s occupation, he warned the rising generation against entering into politics—alleging that the Government of a country did not need u'oi'k ; —what nonsense —every man with a grain of sense, knows that, politicians are the hardest worked people on the face of the earth, He also issued a ridiculous tirade against literature as a professing : —-this will carry its own condemnation with it. He would have us, what Napoleon said we were— “ a nation of shopkeepers,” with a favored few, called the clergy, reposing in snug bcndices. “ Happy homes is what young men want,” says Mr C. I should say grammar is what he needs most. He is about as hail as our Spiritualistic friends on this subject. On the whole, the lecture was disgusting ; the people could nob contain their laughter, but gave vent to their feelings in sneering and ironical applause, which was taken in good part by the lecturer. —I am, Ac , An UnkduoaTjyi) Maori Dunedin, March G.