ICONOCLAST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4440, 12 June 1875, Page 3

ICONOCLAST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —I am not surprised that “Iconoclast” ha; prudently chosen obscurity, and remained silent re specting my questions. He is either himself ai image maker or the willing dupe of vendors in tha line of business. The conglomerate requisite is readily obtained, which, under free manipulation speedily assumes the human form, with features aftei the artist's mind. Affixing a name completes the model, which is declared by the vendor as a true am correct likeness. Putting on the cloak of concealment, assuming the pompous title of “ Iconoclast,' and forthwith destroying the shocking object oi vulgar belief, generally concludes the work. This is an old trade, and withal a dirty one. Mr. Moody has now for eighteen months preached in many of the largest cities in England, Ireland, and Scotland, where ministers of all denominations have heartily co-operated with him, among whom are men of the highest ability. Many of these at first stood aloof from the movement from feelings of confessed prejudice against the man and his methods, but on seeing and hearing for themselves, have in the fullest way united with him. Mr. Moody has been continuously subjected to the keenest scrutiny by those who have an immeasurably higher object in forming a correct judgment than “Iconoclast.” . Very pitiable indeed is the credulity that believes a -flPp RJaa can successfully hoodwink and deceive thousands of earnest, honest hearts, attend three meetings daily, maintain without abatement the interest of a London audience of 19,000 persons; produce results, still multiplying, in places visited a year and more ago, and yet be himself only hollowness and hypocrisy. I would recommend “Iconoclast” to join the Mahommedans. A sufficient answer to the money-making charge is found in Mr. Moody's speech at Freemason's Hall, where, in February last, he and his coadjutor met 900 ministers and workers, for conference. After refuting the slander of his “making a fine thing, financially, out of the movement” he added, “there will be many bitter things said, many lies started ; and a lie will get half round the world before the truth gets its boots on.” Mr, Moody has for many years been pastor of a very large Congregational Church in Chicago, noted for its many and successful agencies. Let this secret defamer inquire about that wonderful national organisation “ The Christian Commission,” which accompanied both armies during the American civil war, and he will get an answer to the Christy Minstrel story. The charge of making lunatics is so common, and has been so often met, that I dismiss it with the following facts from the "Victorian Year Book for 1873,” which, coming from our neighbors, have double interest:—

These show that where “revivals” and excitement are most common, lunacy is least known. Mr. Geo. H. “Wilson's objections proceed from a vain and puerile mind. Supreme folly alone would stand in complacent idleness, watching the toil of a lifeboat's crew going and returning with its living freight, and condescendingly telling them their apparel was inferior to his own, and their boat not equal to a stately royal barge. Why hymns with no literary merit kindle new fire in the hearts of men and women who know something of Cowper, Milton, Wordsworth, and Shakspere, which are sung by hundreds of thousands, and echoed in every quarter of the globe, is surely worth investigating, and demands something betler than a sneer.—l am, &c. Samuel Costall, nth Juno.

«== A. CURIOUS COMBINATION. » TO 1 LAND TIMES. t SlB,- ; the recen : ordination ha 3een aJ UK Wm ost* without comment, ordained deacon was cot in P m to perc be aval eive how the service able for this purpo !te§wn£i week he is occupied in secular occupations, a resi Cent in Wellington tor several years, I liavo no failed to remark the desertions from the Church o England. Where in our churches can be found th representatives of the humbler classes' Well cla< and highly respectable citizens with thoir families ill the seats, but where are those of lower social statu and humbler garb who may be seen in tbeltomai Catholic Churches? They will be found in the rank of the dissenting congregations, allowed to drift ther by the neglect of the clergy. Into how many o the residences of new . arrivals of the poorer clas do the clergy look for additions to their flock Let mo recall to your memory the letter of one o Brogden's navvies, which appeared in the local paper some time since. As the mouthpiece of his shipmates he remarked that though on their-arrival they wer met by an array of officials, they never saw tho face o ft clergyman. I lived for years in a poor and un fashionable neighborhood, and during the whole time I never even saw a clergyman in the street. Amongs my neighbors were several who had been brought ii] in the Church of England, but had seceded to tin Weslcyans, as they themselves informed me, owing tc the utter neglect of the clergy. I can point out persons in the town with childrer unbaptised, and old men and women sinking tb their graves without a word of comfort or advice, but tc And out these I consider to bo the duty of the deacons and not of yours, &c, A Layman. ICONOCLAST. TO THE EDITOR OF H!t>BS5W!f!ITJRSSfflIHM Sin,—I am not sur prudently chosen obscurity, and remained silent respecting my questions. He is either himself an uupe oi venaors 111 ie of business. T ie conglomerate reqi nsite is readily obtained, whi ch, under free aman form, with ixing a name manipulation. sp eedily assumes the h th e artist's mind. A model, which is declared by the vendor as a true and correct likeness. Putting on the cloak of concealment, assuming the pompous title of " Iconoclast," and forthwith destroying the shocking object of vulgar belief, generally concludes the work. This is 1 a dirty one. Mr. Moody has now for eight en months preached in many of the largest cities 1 n Eng and Scotland, -where ministers of all t enommahons have heartily co-operated with him, among whom are men of the highest ability. Many of these at first stood aloof from the movement from feelings of confessed prejudice against the man and his methods, but on seeing and hearing for themselves, have in the fullest way united with him. Air. Moody has been continuously subjected to the keenest scrutiny by those who have an immeasurably higher object in forming a correct judgment than "Iconoclast." Very pitiable indeed is the credulity that believes a man can successfully hoodwink and deceive thousands of earnest, honest hearts, attend three meetings daily. maintain without abatement the interest of a London audience of 19,000 persons; produce results, still multiplying, in places visited a year and more ago, and yet be himself only hollowness and hypocrisy. I would recommend "Iconoclast" to join the MahomA sufficient answer to the money-making charge is found in Mr. Moody's speech at Freemason's Hall, where, in February last, he and his coadjutor met 900 ministers and workers, for conference. After refuting the slander of his " making a fine thing, financially, out of the movement" he added, "there will be many bitter things said, many lies started ; and a lie will get half round the world before the truth gets its boots on." Mr. Moody has for many years been pastor of a very large Congregational Church in Chicago, noted for its many and successful agencies. Let this secret defamer inquire about that wonderful national organisation ** The Christian Commission," which accompanied both armies during the American civil war, and he will get an. answer to the Christy Minstrel story. The charge of making lunatics is so common, and ba3 been so often met, that I dismiss it with the following facts from the ''Victorian Year Book for 1873," which, coming from our neighbors, have double interest:— 1 Accora- ) 1 In * |modation]_ In | Lnnatie Can provmeci " 03 P» ! " S - Asylums, urch of England.. 03,115 11,003 721 Pre sbyterians .. 07,445 2,792 300 We ileyans .. .. 123,074 1,349 59 Rob nan Catholics .. 63,000 7,453 1,112