GOOD TEMPLARS AND THEIR RITUAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 37, 12 February 1877, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLARS AND THEIR RITUAL.

To the Editor of the 'Evening Mail.'

Sir— ln reading over the report of the sittings of the Synod in Friday's Mail, I was greatly grieved (although not a Good Templar) to find the Rev Mr Penny assert that which certainly is not correct, and greatly calculated to do Temperance lodges an injury. He says the Good Templars studiously omitted all mention of our Lord in their prayers, and that to avoid offending some people. Now, Sir, if you will allow me to show how untrue this is, I will quote a few extracts from the rituals, which will show you whether they do not in their lodges worship their Redeemer. The very first prayer of the ritual concludes thus:— " Which we ask in the name of thy dear Son our Redeemer;" another, "-And at the fet of the Son of God, learn the lessons of Faith, Hope. and Charity;" another, "of the Grand Temple on High, through Christ our Redeemer;" again, "We ask thy aid to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour ;" again, "Which may God grant for Jesus sake." Were lat liberty to write you more fully, Sir, I could show that there are very few portions of the Templar ritual without allusion to the name of Jesus. Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer. You, lam sure, will not refuse me this space to vindicate one of the noblest and most God like of institutions, provided it is not brought into contempt by people's misconduct. — I am, &c, ' A Free Templar. Nelson, Feb. 10, 1877. THE REV. MR. PENNY AND THE GOOD TEMPLARS. To THE EDITOR OF THE ' EVENING MAIL.' Sir— Let me apologise through your paper to the Good Templars for the statement I made in the Synod that the name of the second person of the blessed Trinity is omitted from their public prayers/ I made the statement upon hearsay, which I believed to be true. lam glad to find tbat lam mistaken. It was far from my intention to act unjustly towards them. — I am, &c, Alfred Penny. General Synod, Nelson, Feb. 12.