MR KIRBY’S LECTURE

Evening Star, Issue 3927, 25 September 1875, Page 3

MR KIRBY’S LECTURE

To the Editor,

Sir,— lt is with much pain that I find myself represented in your report of my led anon Monday evening as having indulged in a fling at “ministers of the Gospel.” I l»eg to record an unqualified denial of the statement, in which denial I am sure everyone of n.y auditors will bear me cut. 1 referred to tie •gross neglect of tie art of reading exhibited in nur schools and colleges, and said that by such neglect the usefulness of many public men at

the Bar, in the Senate, and in the pulpit was impaired. I also spoke of the importance of. giving due etfect to the teachings of Holy Scripture by reading with distinctness and just emphasis ; but I did so in general terms, and hart not the remotest intention of my words being applied to any class or body of moo. Indeed 1 was thinking more particularly of the “Altar of the Household'’ in making my remarks upon this head. So far ns the clergy of the Church of England arc concerned, I number so many of them among my friends from childhood that to bespatter them would bo, in my case, to revile one’s own “ flesh -aid blood,” while as to dissenting ministers f respect them too highly to indulge in vulgar abuse of the kind imputed to me.—l am, &c., James Kirov. Dunedin, September 24.