A NEW VIEW ON MISSIONS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 331, 19 June 1878, Page 4

A NEW VIEW ON MISSIONS.

The Rev. Mr Fitchott travels often from the beaten path of stale theology, and has lately struck out for entirely new ground. The writer of 11 Passing iNotcs” in the Otago Witness remarks ; — i: The question of what becomes of the heathen has been treated by the Rev. Mr Pitched-, and his deductions point to the conclusion that they arc not sent to where all bad Christians go according to the views of the orthodox. It is for theologians- to settle among themselves whether Mr Filch ott’s theory is right or wrong ; hut if right, and many besides that gentleman think it so, some very curious thoughts present themselves about Christian missions and their efforts. If the heathen’s responsibilities arc increased by the Gospel being brought near him, what harm has he done us that wo should disturb him now with the result of bringing suffering on. him hereafter ? If it is so, as held by.many, that there arc only a very few of these who learn about the truths of Christianity who receive the rewards of faith, and a great bulk of the hearers of the Gospel are lost, what a pity it is not to keep the light onlirely from the heathen. If left to themselves they will be all right, says Mr Fitcbe It, or will be made so in the next world ; whereas if we missiomse them, at the very least but a few, say one or two out of a dozen, of those who Imar will bo saved, and all the rest will be lost. Whereas the chances are that of the present generation hardly any will give a intelligent belief to the doctrines taught. But as they have ail had an opportunity they have incurred the fatal responsibility,, and for their rejection of the light they must

suffer. It Mr Fitchott’s view is correct, itr is im act of wanton cruelty to send missionaries to the heathen, and the darkest day that ever rose on a heathen island is when a missionary set Ins foot there. We do not affirm that this is so, but it must bo so if Mr Fitchett’s view is sound. .> SCENE IN A SANCTUM. A day or two since I went down to the Patriot office to persuade Major Stott to denounce a fraud practised by the gas company. While I was in the editorial room, two or three visitors came in. The first one behaved in a violent and somewhat mysterious manner. He saluted the Major by throwing a chair .at him. Then he seized the editor by 'the hair, bumped Ids head against the table three or lour times, and kicked him. When this exhilirathig exorcise was over, the visitor shook his fist very close to the Majors nose, and said—“ You idiot and outcast, if yon don’t put that notice in to-morrow, I’ll come round here and murder you ! Do you hear me ?” Thou he culled the Major's ears a couple of rimes, kicked him some more, emptied the inkstand over bis head, poured the sand from the sand-box in the same place, knocked over the table, and went out. During all this time (lie Major sat still, with a sickly kind of smile upon his face, anti never uttered a word. When the man left, the Major picked up the table, wiped the ink and sand from his face and, turning to me, said — “ Harry will have Ids little fun, you see.” “ lie is a somewhat exuberant humorist,” I replied. “ What was the object of the joke;” “ Weil, Infs going to sell his furniture at auction, and 1 promised to notice the lad In lu-d.'-y’s .Patriot, but 1 forgot it, and be calL-d to remind rue of it.” “Do ah your friends refresh your memory in that vivid manner? If 'l’d ben; in v'onr -dace, I’d havokuockcd him down.” “ No, 3*on wouldn’t,” said Stott; “no, you wouldn’t. Hurry is the Sheriff, and he controls two thousand dollars’ worth of official advertising. I’d sooner bed kick mo from here to Don mo and back again, than to take that advertising' awr-v from tlie JL y atrtot. Vi l:c.t are a ter.' bumps and a. sore shin or two compared with all that fatness ? No, sir ; he can have all the fun he wants out of me.”— Max Adder. i - i' ■ ' LARGE ESTATES. The Tapanui Courier says:—“ The bum. member for Waikaia recently said ‘ that there.wore seven men within 15 miles of Lawrence who held 150,000 acres of land, or more tb.au 200 squares miles-of country, which, allowing 200 acres tor a family, could maintain 700 families in comfort.’ In the neighborhood (says the Southland Times) we have six innholders who., possess in the aggregate 200,000 acres of freehold, independant of extensive leasehold blocks of large extent. The purchased land is almost without exception suitable for agricnlturol purpose, it is a matter of regret to see thousands of acres .still in natural grass, and perhaps only carry ing a sheep to the acre, winch would grow crops sojoiul to none in the .Colonies. In the course of a few years it will no doubt pay the largo runholders to subdivide their properties, and let them to tenant farmers—but, in the meantime, the district and Colony alike suffer from a dearth of population, owing to such immense areas being held by capital's is. Xfc requires bat little foresight to see the advantages that would accrue to the country if the large estate owners could he induced to follow the example of the Company and Mr McLaughan. Ample room could be found for 1000 farmers in tbe district alone, and the incalculable advantages to bo derived by providing, scope for the better class of yoemcn cannot bo over estimated. 1