CHURCH AND PROBITION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1699, 15 March 1906, Page 2

CHURCH AND PROBITION

iTo the Editor Gisborne Times, Sir, —I notice that both Mr Joyoe and Late Church Member ” have been attacking the Rev. Dawson Thomas for the pronounced stand he has taken on the temperance question. They attribute the alleged non-progression of the ohuroh and church extension to that gentleman's-"'^ - opinions on this very important eooial question. At present, sir, I should jus like to say a word as an outsider. I thin i is quite probable that the Church of England in this district has in reality progressed rather than otherwise,- hut at least I cannot refrain from smiling when I read the line of argument brought forward by your correspondents. A little oalm re* flection must show us that there are otherand more potent factors at work in this connection. One of them is the increased tension in the struggle for existence in later years, and another the prevalence in many quarters of critical opinions. Scepticism in eome form or other is not unoommon nowadays, and it is only fair in estimating tbe results of a clergyman’s labors to take this into consideration. Although I fear I oan hardly be numbered as one of the faithful, I may say candidly, that from what little I have seen of Mr Thomas he is a man well worthy of the commendation and esteem of the whole community—untiring in good works, not a bigoted religionist though doubtless a sincere one, and one who errs, if he errs at all, on the right side of a matter that is of vital concern to the general publio.—l am, eto, VOLTAIRIAN.