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New Zealand Mail, Issue 18, 27 May 1871, Page 16

Precedence or Prejudice ?—A correspondent of the “ South Australian Mr James Storrie, a member of the Congregational Union, writes a sensible letter on the question of precedence between ministers of the different sects, as raised by'the order observed at a late levee of the Governor. He gays; —"Civil and religious freedom are already possessed by the various denominations in this colony, and no invitations to private entrees can affect it in the slightest degree. No one invited to the private entree is compelled to attend, and if any one is dissatisfied with the position of his name on the list it would seem an easy thing to stay away. *1 cannot but think, with all deference to men whose opinions I respect, that they have made too much of- this matter. What, after all, is the value of this privilege of private entree P Has the chairman of the Congregational Union any constitutional right to be there ? Is it any benefit to the Congrationalists if he is present ? or would the great principle of religious equality _be in danger if he were absent ? In short, is it of the slightest consequence to any man, woman, or child in the colony whether he is there or not ? It certainly is gratifying, and shows how favored we are as a people, that the only grievance these grave aud reverend seignors had to discuss was this question of precedence.”