RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN THE GREY VALLEY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1935, 19 October 1874, Page 2

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN THE GREY VALLEY.

[to the editor.] Sir — Knowing that your columns are always open for a free expression of opinion on all social subjects, I have, ventured to trouble you with a few remarks bearing on the great injustice to, and irreparable lo3s our district will suffer, if , the rumored removal of the Rev. Mr Flavell to another cure become an accomplished fact. Befrra endeavoring to prove the injuries the consummation of such an act would entail on us, I must crave permission to take a mere retrospective glance at what the position of the Grey Valley was, looked at from a moral and religious point of view, ere the advent of Mr Flavell in our midst. We need only carry our memory back for the space of a little over two years, and we cannot help remembering that Protestant ministers and ■ edifices dedicated to the worship of God, for members of that faith were disgracefully conspicuous by their absence, the Uoman Catholics . being the only body ©f Christians who had evidenjed an interest in the spiritual welfare of our souls, and too much honor and credit cannot be paid to them as the pioneers of religion, even now taking the lead of all other denominations in works tending to elevate and improve the minds of the present and future generations. It is only with the past eighteen months that the business places in the centres of .our mining population paid the small respect to the Sabbath of closing their stores on the Sunday. Formerly, the first day of the week was the busiest of the busy r the tradesman's harvest, and the riotous and drunken holiday of the careless. Months, aye years, would pass, and not a minister of any other denomination, but the Uoman Catholic would be seen among3t us, and it is no wonder that vicious habits, lewd thoughts and conversation, and blasphemous oaths were the too common witnesses to the demoralised condition of the masses. Now, mark the gradual improvement and social changes that are, and have been at work since our three clergymen have been laboring in this disordered field. No Town, Nelson Creek, Half-Ounce, and Nobles have each one or more churches. The ' Ahaura has religious services every Sunday for both Catholic and Protestant, and a really excellent school for children. Storekeepers and business people maintain a strict outward observance at least of the Sabbath ; the ribald and obscene .conversation is now marked, if employed, in public places, and men no longer forget that Sunday remains in the week set apart for a day of rest. The whole tone of our thoughts and expressions have undergone a pleasing alteration. One naturally asks if such be the effect, where is the cause? All the honor and credit of such a revolution is owing to the indefatigable energy and truly Christian spirit of our Grey Valley clergy — three in number — and surely we caunot allow either one of them to remove without raising our voices to retain his services. During Mr Flavell's residence here he has proved himself to possess the happy ability so desirable in a minister, of adaptation to all classes and circumstances. His conversation is at all times quiet and affectionate, entering- instinctively as it were into the joint sorrows of rich and poor, administering counsel and a 1 vice at the right moment, and never disagreeably forcing religious matters out of season. The purity and honesty of his purpose is exemplified by his daily life, and no one can help being impressed most favorably with his simple piety. Is it reasonable to ask us to allow such a man to be removed ? Is it probable that a gentleman new to West Coast experience could, for some time at least, master the idiosyncracies of a gold-field population, and enter so fully info their feelings, ways, and manners ? Allowing that such an one might be his successor, then' it would be more than likely that physical incompetence would not permit of so many services being held every Sunday in towns ten or twelve miles apart. Mr Flavell has entwined himself in our hearts, and if religion is to be taught successfully it must be through our affections ancV sympathies. Besides the foregoing arguments, we can urge that as the district is fully able and does support ita clergyman, we have at least the right of selection. That choice has fallen on Mr Flavell, and so long as he is content and happy with uj, I can see no reason or just cause why he should be displaced. A fatality appear^ to hang over the Ahaura district, we are first robbed of the services of an efficient. Warden and his clerk, and now our universally respected and loved pastor is threatened to be sent hence in direct opposition to our wishes, and I sincerely hope that the Bishop of Nelson will recognise our rights and allow the Rev. Mr Flavell to complete the work he has bo successfully commenced. Apologising for using so much of your valuable space, I am, &c., Churchman.