“W.N.,” AND “VERITAS."—THE LAST WORD.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 157, 13 February 1869, Page 4

“W.N.,” AND “VERITAS."—THE LAST WORD.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —Will jmu allow me a short space to examine how the matter stands between myself and Veritas, for with so much authority and patristic teaching, we are in danger of losing sight of the main argument. In the first place, I stated that to the missionary teaching, and missionary influence, we owe nearly all our troubles with the Maoris. This your correspondent O.N.E. denied, and his denial takes the form of a very (I think) silly question. He seems incapable of understanding the difference between error in teaching and crime in do., and in conclusion, asks what has 1,800 years of Christian teaching done for me. My answer was, that the Roman Empire was converted to Christianity by the sword ; that for centuries the sword was the chief propagandist. This aroused the ire of another very learned gentleman, who declares I attacked the whole body of Christians, and emphatically denies that there ever was any persecutions. Now, sir, is all history a myth, or is it true that the Jews persecuted the priests of Baal; that every sect have been persecuted where they have the power ? Tertullian was, we are told, one of the most conspicuous advocates of absolute and complete toleration during the season of the Church’s adversity. The eulogies that Eusebius unceasingly lavishes upon the persecuting edicts of Constantine, were a faithful expression of the sentiments of the Church in those days. It will be hard to deny this, and maintain the name of Veritas. You see, sir, how very cleverly your correspondent evades this subject; but he is forced to admit over 700 massacred in one night. This ought to be sufficient to support my assertion of the sword, &c. The tortures used as arguments to convince, thousands, as well as myself, have seen in the various parts of England and Scotland the thumbkin, the boot, the rack, and the witch’s bridle. The death of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Charles 1., will stand for bloodshed on the field and on the scaffold; and if Christianity has not to answer for that, patristic and

sectarian teaching has—and it is against that and the intrigue of ambitious leaders that I aimed at. But your correspondent, I dare say, thought by raising a great dust and cloud of fathers and bolting in the smoke, that I should have nothing more to say and, in truth, I have not, for I see little advantage to mankind from such discussions. The day will come when the ark of a pure Christianity will float above the wreck of creed and superstition ; when men will consider it a duty to succor the fatherless and widow ; to stop and bind up the wounds of the sick and the afflicted ; where the priest and the levite may raise their sanctified e3'es to heaven, and pass by on the other side, whilst the good Samaritan will stop and shed the'iear of pity.—l am, &c. W.N.