LETTER IN EXPLANATION OF THAT WRITTEN TO THE REV. CHARLES CONNOR.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 15 September 1864, Page 3

LETTER IN EXPLANATION OF THAT WRITTEN TO THE REV. CHARLES CONNOR.

I line! always supposed that it was the duty of a Minister to apprise a master, or the person in charge of a station, &c, that it was his intention to visit, and the object of that visit, or whether it would bo convenient and agreeable. I most positively assort that I was neither spoken or written to by anyone concerned—not even by Mr. Connor—prior to his first vi<ut nor since. But when he did como was "cntortained as an angel unawares" under my roof. Mr. Connor did not, during his stay from 9 o'clock p.m. till 9 o'clock a.m. next morning, intimate in any way the object of his visit, or express a desire to preach *, nor, on leaving, did he ask whether it was convenient to visit the people in their homes, or if I had time to go with him, but took a young man away from his duty to attend upon him and go from house to house, &c. It was this uncourteous, ungentlemanly procedure that I was not acquainted with that caused mc to remonstrate against such conduct. This has never been the course adopted by any other Minister visiting my placo. For instance, tho Rev. Mr. Qiflbrd always sent a note apprizing mc of his intention bo to do. Hi 3 acts were in due keeping with the gentleman and the Christian. Aud ou acquainting him that I was a Wesleyan and that I expected tho Rev. Isaac Harding to visit the station, and that in time there was every probability of procuring a preacher for this Northern District, his reply was in just keeping with himself —" I will

attend to you until yours arr&°> and then I will be considered free." And thourfi Mr. Harding \tas my minister by persuasion, etill/oe could tfcfc tho courteous and ask if it was corf'enient for him to visit anyone during his stay, preaching, &c. But the etiquette and training of Jh. Connor may have been otherwise, and may thus 1 probably bear this construction for his procedu/e. I did after his first visit send a most pomted v/i'bal message with a young man who was frequenting Mr. Connor's for lessons from my station, " tha/my ground was occupied by Wesleyan services, a/d attended to; that it was needless for him to co/ne to my places, but had better go to those Btatiftns where he was needed, and especially to those who were of his views, for I considered his coming intrusion under the circumstances, knowhig fhat our modes of worship and views were different, and that the people had hitherto met to worsliip God prior to his visits, -without ever calling in question any man's views or conscientious principles. Had this, and another, been faithfully delivered, I am in charity led to think that the uupleasantness would not have arisen, and tliat Mr. Connoi' would have prudenfy acted otherwise. Moreover, on investigating tJ»d subject I found that this youn* man and 3/r. Connor bad, prior to hie corning into mv «nploy, preconcerted the affair ; and it v-as —not merely as a casual visit, bn* to make repeated visits. I am grieved bcrond measure to tliiuk of the effects of that first visit, for through some malevolent agency, discords, strifes, dissensions, ill-will, and the odium of which was thrown upon mc in pointed, cruel words and acts, which gave evidence sufficient of the spirit engendered where peace and goodwill had always been in the greatest harmony. It may bo perliaps that I do not correctly know a master's legitimate position, as some men presume that they must subvert his place, and even haughtily call upon conscience to defend themselves, and then that that conscience affect to override their employers irrespective of all law, and without respect to the powers that be. Hence, in consequence of winch, let it hereby be known that as long as I am master I intend to act conscientiously us Dictator on my own station, and reserve to myself tho right who shall preach and who shall not; and should any man in my employ not agree thereto he has his remedy by leaving and going elsewhere, because I never lrave refused any man in my employ the privilege of a domiciliary visit from his own minister —Roman Catholic or otherwise.

If Mr. Connor can reconcile his conscience with 1 Tim , vi., I—6,1 —6, on his hist visit, by pissing by mc and going up to my people in the middle of tho day during sheep gathering, and holding a public service in one of my huts, without submitting it to my notice —I cannot, as it most glaringly interferes with my rule of duty, and also his law of observance, as found written by Paul to Timothy and Titus. In conelusisu I do think that there is not a master in this Province who would not feel aggrieved and insulted under the erreumstances. Neither can I believe that any other minister in the Otago Province would have acted in such a way. For even had I been opposed to religion, and had been an infidel, then he might perhaps have used guile to visit and preach to the people; but it being otherwise, I take it as done in a spirit of opposition to myself, as a Wesleyan holding free and liberal views on religious questions. What I have written I have written !

Thomas Feuens