Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 15, 4 August 1891, Page 2

Correspondence

THE SERMONS OF MR GRANT,

TO THE EDITOK OF TH K STAR.

Sir, — In answer to " J.B. " I may say that I am delighted to hear that MiGrant is not personally responsible for the insertion of his discourses, as it entirely disposes of any suspicion of egotism in regard to that gentleman. " J.B. " thinks it a pity that the colonial press does aot infuse a little more true religion into their columns, and as an introductory move in this direction, proceeds to quole, as an example of wuat he considers true religion, " Do as you would be done by, " which I take to be a corruption of I " Never do to others what you would not have them do to you. " "J. 8., "in advancing this text, does not state whether or not he was inspired by Mr Grant. Possibly not. I presume " J.B. " would scarcely recommend that the doctrines of the great pagan philosopher Confucius should find advoeasy in the press of the colony. In quoting this rule as the basis of true religion, " J.B. " has probably forgotten that this was precisely the teaching of the pagan Chinaman some 2400 years ago. '• J. 3. " nukes use of the following incongruous sentence : " I do nod think any secular paper would exclude any secular matter from its columns." The-'pfoiound absurdity of this sentence must be so apparent to all as to render criticism unnessarys. "Wita regard Co one Stab not beiug a strictly secular paper, I am quite sure that I am on safe ground in asserting that the majority of its readers derive more satisfaction from its betting news, than profit from sermons. People take the papers to learn the news of tue day. Neither is it any proof of debased minds because we take an intellegent interest in the darker sides of human nature. In my humble opinion much good is effected by the publicity given to crime, and evil-doers are kept more in check from fear of the press strictures, than by the severest enact- ] ments of the law. I contend that it is an injustice to the majority of readers, that, as is often the case, fresh, readable, and instructive matter is crowded out to make room for the mere husks of thoughts from which the grains have been abstracted by abler men than Mr Grant, centuries ago. Again, if it is 1 the correct thing for "J. 8 ." to insert his sermons every other denomination has an equal right, so that probably in the near future our local paper may literaly bristle with sermons by rival preachers, having the effect of setting sect against sect and c.iusiag no end of the bitterness and rancour. — I am &c, 8.J.8.