EVOLUTION.

Evening Star, Issue 4313, 22 December 1876, Page 4

EVOLUTION.

From the last number of "Words of Grace," a religious periodical published in Melbourne, edited by Mr W. Corrie John ston, a gentleman who made no small stir in this community two or three years ago, we extract the following on the subject of the blackballing of the Rev. Mr Fitchett by the Ducedin Young Men's Christian Association : " It is the general opinion that the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association has got off the rails :.' its peaceful, prosperous, eminently useful career has come to an untimely end. Having acted as its Evangelist for several months, and don«j our part ro bringing it before the public, wo sincerely regret the present notoriety of the association. We were not taken by surfirioe. Baring oiir connection with it we got o know that there might be danger ahead. Because cuf preaching was not thought to square With the tenets of one|denomination represented on the Board, it was mooted that we ought to get rounded a little at the corners. On that occasion the good sense of the Board would not allow the matter to be discussed. The Evangelist was left to his Bible and his Master. What a pity that the same wisdom did not put on the break previous to the present catastrophe. Some four month b ago the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, "Wesleyan minister, was solicited to allow himself to be proposed as* a member of the association. When the proposal came before*-ipe Board, although the nominee accepted the constitution, a published lecture of his on Evolution being considered anti-Christian, the Board rashly decided on rejecting the application. A reCent public meeting of the ordinary members

sustained the action of the Board. Consequently, over forty members have resigned, and it is questionable whether the association as originally constituted will survive the shock. As in a collision, the heaviest vessel frequently suffers most, so we fear the association has received the greatest damage. "To understand the present turn of affairs, we seem to require to bear in mind that JDunediu has recently been visiteA by earthquakes, and that the religious sentiment of the community is still in the throes of a controversy on Evolution. Professor Salmond has ably led the orthodox party,' backed up by the majority of the Young Men's Christian Association, proving to their entire satisfaction that Evolution and Christianity are diametrically opposed. Mr Fitchett took part with the Evolutionists, but without considering whether he held Evolution as lampooned by the Professor, the Young Men's Chiistian Association seemed to think that as they had taken part iu presenting the latter with a complimentary address, they were justified iu giving the former a blackballing. It ought to be enough for au Association that a man honestly professes his acceptance of its constitution, but this is now declared to be insufficient in Dunedin. This, only one instance among many going to prove that he who in these days dares to think for himself, and takes an independant stand, must count tl e cost and be prepared to be misunderstood and misrepresented. By many, a breach of morality seems more readily forgiven tllau a breach of custom. Toleration is well nigh as scarce as when it had to be manufactured out of the blood, the dust, or the ashes of martyrs."