THE MAYOR AND THE VICAR

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2343, 9 November 1908, Page 5

THE MAYOR AND THE VICAR

AN INTERCHANGE OF LETTERS.

During the course of Ids address on the No-license question in His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday evening the Mayor, Mr AV. D. Lysnar, remarked that if the leaders of the Nolicense movement were sincere, they should be prepared to receive information. He had sent information to the Vicar of the Anglican Church here and hod received an insulting reply. The Rev. L. Dawson Thomas, who was in the dress circle, at once challenged Mr Lysnar to read his letter and the Mayor’s reply. Air Lysnar found he had not the letters with him, and offered to liand them to the Press for publication. To tin’s course the Rev. L. Dawson Thouias agreed. Accordingly, the correspondence referred to was handed to the Press on Saturday. It is as follows: Ist .Jn».v, 1004. The Rev. Dawson Thomas. The A'icarage, Holy Trinity Church, Gisborne.

Dear Sir, —As a member of the Anglican Church, I cannot refrain from writing you and expressing to you my very deep regret to notice that you are using our church’s pulpit for what is in fact an immoral and ungodly social reform, by preaching prohibition from the pulpit instead of the Gospel. I use the words ‘■'immoral'’ and “ungodly” advisedly, for it is acknowledged that prohibition begets worse evils than drunkenness, and God knows the evils of drunkenness arc bad enough. I feel sure that if you had an open mind and impartially studied this subject, you must come to the one conclusion, and that is that prohibition is had, and the prohibitionists are only using it as a means to another end. Surel\ this cannot be a Christian work to make had worse in order to force a so-called social reform. I have in the past had occasion to disavow the conduct- of my own minister and a bishop of my own church in this matter, and if occasion arises, and my own church becomes again mixed up in this question, I will consider it my duty (God granting me strength) to publicly speak against those who, through thoughtlessness or otherwise, may try to use our churches-’ pulpit and influence for an unworthy object. While writing you thus. I would like you to understand that I d,?plore the evils of drunkenness as much as anyone, and will join hinds with anyone to assist temperance by education and cultivating self-restraint on the lines laid down by Father Matthews: but I claim to hive studied the matter with an impartial mind, and having done so. I am positive that prohibition will aggravate the drink evils, and will introduce worse evils in its train than those we would do so much to remove. I would ask you not- to mix the influence of our church up in this prohibition question; it is bad, and I say if properly gone into will never be carried in this district, for the great bulk of the people. I am convinced, desire to do that which is right in this matter, and will vote accordingly, and will not be led ly extremists, faddists, or theorists. I enclose you a copy of a pamphlet 1 have published of facts collected on this subject, also a copy of the objects of a Temperance Reform League started here. I have also a quantity of other information collected on this vexed question, and if you are sufficiently interested, I should be glad to meet you and give you all the information I have on this subject. —I am. sincerely yours, AY.' DOUGLAS LYSNAR. The note on the letter returned was as follows: “I return your letter herewith, and must inform you that I regard your statements as grossly impertinent. 1 refuso absolutory to touch now upon the matter you have broached in so foolish and unguarded a manner. AVhen you unreservedly retract- the insolent remarks you have made herein to your vicar—l have 'underlined the grossest and most offensive ol them—l may listen to anything you have to say on the matter at issue. J may hero state that already I have been approached by a gentleman ol the congregation—in a gentlemanly manner—who holds views on the matter somewhat akin to your own, I imagine. I have freely consented to go into the matter with him. Failing a retraction from you, I shall treat you as you richly deserve —by quietly ignoring you. I return your publication quite unread, and inform you, in conclusion, that I shall speak from my pulpit exactly what I choose without the assistance of any impertinent layman. L. DAAYSON THOMAS.

The above note by the Rev. Dawson Thomas is written in red ink on the hack of Air Lvsnars letter of July 1, 1904, tho words underlined in red in tho letter being ‘Tor what is 'in fact.an immoral and ungodly social reform by preaching prohibition from the puSpit, instead of the Gospel.” “I feel sure that if you had an open mind and impartially studied this subject, you must come to ono conclusion.” “Those who through thoughtlessness or otherwise may try to use . our church’s pulpit pud influence, for m unworthy ot)-

ject.” “Extremists, faddists, or theorists.” ' , , Gisborne, .1 uly 4, 1304. The Rev. Dawson Thomas, The Vicarage, H.T. Church, Gisborne. Dear Sir. — I thank you for returning my letter, with your note endorsed, and very much 'regret the spirit in which you received it. May 1 make a comment (just as man to man] on the tone of your reply, i.e., if my letter is, as you say, grossly impertinent and insofent, is your reply couched in a more temperate and guarded manner? Forgive my making any comment whatever on this head, as you are my vicar, but the spirit and tone of your xeplj' struck one as strong in sequence. Permit me to say that I did not write you with anv heat or personal feeling, but with the sole object of doing good ,to my own church and district, and in weighing this matter, I would ask you not to let personal feeling, or anger to enter into the subject, as it is all too important. If my letter lias caused you annoyance and p lin personally, I regret it very much, and if I have erred, it is perhaps by speaking too plainly to you, a stranger in our district and colony, who perhaps does not realise that this subject has arrived at a point when one.is compelled to speak plainly to avoid a calamity. On the question of my unreservedly retracting the words in niv letter, which you have underlined, I venture to say that when you understand more about this subject you may better appreciate my refusal to retract them. It would be impossible for me to retract the statement that prohibition is in fact- an immoral and ungodly social reform, which I gather are the chief words you take so much exception to in my letter. I repeat, as I have repeated through our locai press and from the public platform throughout this district, that it is an immoral and ungodly reform, and I claim to be able to prove and justify this statement to any person who will calmly weigh this vexed question without allowing personal feeling, revenge, or anger to enter into the subject. Be the result of our correspondence what it may, any conscience is dear tint I have written you offering information; you have returned it-as an insult, and decline with scorn to read it.’ I write you explaining that it was sent- with the best intentions. I now await to learn with what spirit you. as a Christian minister, receive that- explanation.—Yours faitbf-ullv. AY. DOUGLAS LYSNAR. The A’icarage. Gisborne. July oth, 1904. Sir, —I have to refer you to my previous communication as my reasons for still declining to touch upon the matter of prohibition. Your “exid niation’’ 1 regard as quite beside the question. Kindly note that- unless iny demand bo fully satisfied. I decline any further, correspondence. —Yours, etc-.. L. DAAYSON THOMAS. AA . D. Lysnar. Esq.. Barrister and Solicitor, Gisborne.