THE ORANGE PROCESSION.
[to THE EDITOR. 1 Sir, —In your issue of last evening, my attention was called to a certain Sabbatic utterance, which, to most tolerant minds, may savor somewhat of an uncharitable, not to say unchristian, spirit. I imagine it will be information to most Orangemen to learn that they desire others of different ideas and belief* 1 to commit themselves,” or that they desire the satisfaction of seeing anyone “ committed for a breach of the peace.” The principles of Orangemen are far too exalted to admit of insult being given to the votaries of any form of worship. I challenge the speaker on this occasion to point or refer to one single instance in New Zealand in which Orangemen, individually or collectively, have outraged the public peace by unseemly brawls on the common highways, or attacked others with whom the}* may differ in opinion on theological questions. Does not the law of this free land extend the ii'gis of its protection equally over those who believe in the tenets of the Romish faith and those who think with and love the teachings of the Rofonnation ? And is it not monstrous that any individual should publicly stigmatise as worthy of contempt the actions of a body of law-abiding men who simply choose to exercise the same privilege that has never been denied or grudged to those who think differently from themselves ? Allow me, Sir, to remark that no Orangeman is permitted by the laws that govern the actions of the Orange body to insult the members or the faith of the Romish Church, and it surely cannot redound to the credit of certain members of that body that its pastor should think himself’ justified in * ! beseeching ” his people to abstain from indulging in outrages that all just-minded men think should be punished with a stern and un--11 inching justice, whether committed by one section of the community or another. What would be thought or said of the Protestant portion of this land did they attack the numerous Roman Catholic displays and processions that annually take place in various portions of New Zealand ? And does not the same principle apply on the other hand? Is it right or just that because one section of the population chooses to clothe itself in orange, blue, or purple, an opposite section favoring another color and belief should be allowed to deprive a portion of a free people by coercive means from exercising the same rights that they themselves freely enjoy ? Out upon all laws that would permit, even in theory, this state of things to exist, and equally so upon all those who would wish to see them promulgated I In conclusion I think that a verdict of narrowmindedness and an unchristian disregard of the undoubted rights and lawful privileges of others will be passed by many upon the sentiments of this gratuitous teacher and vcndoi of ‘‘contempt.”—l am, Ac., SARKE.
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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2380, 2 November 1880, Page 2
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489THE ORANGE PROCESSION. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2380, 2 November 1880, Page 2
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