Original Correspondence.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 June 1863, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail. Sir, —It has been with regret that I have seen some remarks contained in last Saturday's issue of the "Wakatip Mail," with regard to the removal of the cross from the Church of England building A correspondent, signing himself "A Member of the Church," therein accuses the Committee of weakness and hypocrisy, and assigns, certain causes for the resolution to remove the cross from the building; and the Member further states that "perhaps the Committee will also vote the prayer-book heretical and the pulpit a relic of Popery," and they may establish an Evangelical Union and make the church building a Little Bethel, wherein such and such parties can howl; and further, it is "sad to see party spirit commencing so soon, and division and bitterness where unity and goodwill should be." In the first place, the Member is informed that no weakness and hypocrisy has been the the cause of the resolution to remove the cross, but a respectful request to the Committee from numerous members and subscribers, combined with their own judgment, and the decision was not arrived at through division and bitterness, but in a very peaceable manner. And I am at a loss to understand to what end the Member applies his high sounding expressions, such as " apathy," "want of courage," "fear," "weak submission," &c, and how they bear on the present question I cannot conceive. The Member wishes to prove, from the "history of ages," a reason for returning that emblem to

the church, but we desire him to study the 1 "history of ages" once more, and he will find, especially since Luther's Reformation, every reason to arrive at a very opposite conclusion* | and he will learn that a Christian can love and venerate the emblem of the cross in hid heart without having a carved image before him. However the different creeds differ on this point, and have done so for centuries* and it is in a very uncharitable way the Member attempts to convince his readers of* the contrary, and the tenor of his letter and the strong expressions made, can scarcely tend to promote that union, peace, and harmony he professes to admire. In conclusion, with regard to the impure motives he assigns to the Committee, let the Member bear in mind the great and good doctrine laid down for us all: " Judge not, that ye be not judged." Before closing this I desire to apologise for having thus far trespassed on your columns, as a matter of that nature, ought never to become a subject for discussion in a public newspaper, and I trust that whenever any difference of opinion may arise on any such subject, it will be treated more in accordance with its sacred character. I remain, Sir, yours obediently, A PROTESTANT; Queenstown, May 26, 1863. ♦ To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail. Sir, —I have to regret that you were unacquainted, in detail, of the facts of the case, as that now made the subject of a leading article in your journal of the 27th instant. Your animadversions on Mr. Rees and his " minions," as you so courteously designate the gentlemen in Mr. Rees' employ, might well have been spared, and justice done this " Old Man of the Mountain," who whatever his faults may be, can challenge the public of this district to point out one single ac t of his own or his employees which may be considered unjust or unmanly. In reference to the case you have so warmly championed, I may add, with Cowper, There are some men who creep to find their way, The positive pronounce without dismay. The facts of the case, however, are so simple, that they only have to be stated to be understood. A man comes to our yards, states that having small funds he shall esteem it a favor if we oblige him by serving him with meat and accommodation. We do both, although not without some hesitation, knowing that there are already enough butchers. In a little time we were glad to find him going a-head, and earning a good living; a short time afterwards a gentleman named C. Howell states his intention of starting a slaughter-yard, when, judge our surprise at finding " Our Friend" making a personal affair of the same, and taking the Grand Tour of Queenstown, informing the butchers, en route, that he intended leaving us and hoped they'd "go and do likewise." Having heard of this pleasing weakness on the part of " Our Friend," I made enquiry and found such statement to be correct; and here I would state that any animus I am supposed to have shown was not from the fact of his purchasing a calf from another person, but from his having endeavoured to provoke dissatisfaction, and estrange my customers in such an unmanly way When informed of his strange conduct towards us, he immediately stated he knew the reason of our withdrawing our support from him; it was because he had bought a calf from some one else. I stoutly denied this at the time. And he then with an amount of Jcsuistry worthy of a better cause, so artfully introduces the affair before the public, that they become disgusted, the Press indignant, ourselves maligned, and that through the misstatements and misrepresentations of a man who, if he had any conscience, would blush at his own temerity and want of that gratitude which he so lately publicly acknowledged due to us. Yours truly, Geo. Clements.