THE MODERN PENTECOST. Our Port Albert Correspondent in Reply.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 82, 27 December 1884, Page 3

THE MODERN PENTECOST. Our Port Albert Correspondent in Reply.

\ '(From the Auckland " Star," Dec. 20.) I had thought that my work was done, and that it only remained for tho roadcrs of the Star to form their own opinion on this holiness camp-meoting, based on tho facts I have considered it my duty to roport. I am pleased that public opinion haß been moved. To me, as one interested in all that tends to the true and best interests of ovory Albertland settlor, it has been a sourco of pain and regret that the necessity should have arisen for narrating this extraordinary bcene. Had I wished to create excitement only, I could have written much that I thought bottor not published. I have refrained from giving my opinion, knowing that a correspondent's duty chiefly is to report facts, leaving to others to form opinions. It is a satisfaction to mo to notice that all tho correspondents of the Auckland journals agree in their statement of facts. I am blamed by some persons for being tho cause of so much attontion being givon to this subjoct. But it will result in good, and not evil. 1 have not written an unkind word or exaggerated a statement of tact ; and as an answer to tho manifesto published by your contemporary I have received tho following:— " Seoing that Mr Thomas has openly charaeteuscd tho newspaper reports oi the late camp meeting as ' slanderous and lying reports,' we wish to say that there id not a word either slandorouB,lulso,oroxagj.'crated. From our own personal knowledge and obbcrvation, we can buy that tiie disposition of both Star and ' Kows ' reporters has boen rathor to suppress the most shocking scenes and features of the affair. — Tnoh. D'Akov Hamilton, teacher, Tauhoa; B. Martin' Gums, toucher, Port Albert; J. Price Gkadukll, teacher, Wharehino." Tlio Evangelists Have Hopes of Him. This day's mail brings me a long letter from one of the evangelists with a very pretty card onclosed, on which is printed "That we should bring iorth fruit unto God." Tt commences "Jesus only." ilo say& he " love^ " me,although I'm a sinner. Mo withes me to repent before I have to •'appear bcfi^'o the judgment Lar of God." lam "to bow my strong will in submission to King .lesus." " lou know you are a sinner before God," etc., and it endb :—: — " I know tho Holy Ghost dwells in my hoart. Hallelujah ! To Jehus be all the glory. Amen/ And the only proof this evangelist, and "your loving friend," can offer that I'm a .sinner is that 1 gave him and party straw berries and cream, which in their religious torpor they forgot to eat. Can it be that thoy considered strawberries forbidden fruit? "I could a tale unfold " in this simple matter of (strawberries and cream. While writing this tho ihought occurs to me that tho writer of the letter meant it for tho Stah reporter who " inters icwed " tho holiness party at Onehunga, and whom Mr Thomas failed to convert. Perhaps I can't do better than give a few more facts, and then leave tho whole matter to the thinking, reflecting, md religious portion of the community. I cncloso the names of the peisons referred to for your information, but as my desire U to set forth tho truth, and not to give pain to tho chiel actors or their friends, I have left them blank in my report. More Incidents of the Camp. On the Sunday, the last day of tho camp meeting, Mrs — , while under great excite ment and on tho platform before 200 persons, took off her wedding-ring, saying the Holy Ghost bid her do so, and handed it to him who on that very day fifteen years before had placed it on her finger. On the following Tuesday, while walking in the blue-gum grove, he recited to me a few little incidents that o )curred fifteen years since ; and taking out of his waistcoat pocket the wedding-ring and holding it up, he said, " Fifteen years ago I put this ring on her finger, and on Sunday she took it off for tho first time, to plcaso the Holy Ghost. Nothing else would have induced her to do it." A few minutes later he said: "Oh! Thomas will have to undergo some severe tests for thus." 1 asked him to explain. He roplicd, "My wife is lying ill in yonder house (Mr Becroft's), and a holy Kiss from Thomas would restore her, but he is too proud to do it." At this moment a head is thrust out from a small tent close by, and " It's a lie ; why don't you get that devil out of you ?" were the words which proceeded from that head, when it withdrew. Mr — calmly replied, "Poor man ! the devil that left me last night has got into him. " Mr — further said ho should 'devote his whole life to preaching the doctrine of a real, personal devil." I thought ho had good evidence in support of this doctrine. On the Monday Mr of Auckland, declared he delivered a Tauhoa settler of a devil. He cried out, "Bro. I've delivered him," and Bro. rushed up to the big tent and seized this Tauhoa gentleman, and called out to Bro. "I've got the devil, I'vo got the devil." This q liet old gentleman of Tauhoa, unlike myself, now firmly believes there has been a modern Pentecost.

Rev. W. Gittos Speaks Plainly. On Sunday last tho Key. W. Gittos preached in the Wosleyan Chapel, Port Albert, and as it had been announced he would discourse on the late holiness camp meeting, the building was crowded, many remaining outside. The neighbouring settlements were well represented. Mr Gittos reminded the congregation that he was a free man, and meant to speak freely. He was able to read a man's character after a very brief acquaintance, and he saw at once that he (Mr Gittos) would never bo able to work with Mr ! Thomas, for he was a "wild Yankee," and the people attending the camp meetings had actod "most irregularly, indiscreetly, and intemperately." " Good brother Thomas wished to do what was right; but he pioved himsolf unable to control and direct a large meeting, hence the vory strange and extraordinary proceedings. Talk of holiness ! talk of perfection ! He (Mr Gittos), had never yet scon a perfect man or woman, and tho proceedings at the camp meetings had not gone towards strengthening his belief in human perfection. Mv Gittos preached at great length, and expressed his opinion without reserve, and from his position and high character, must have had considerable influence with those who testify that they are perfectly holy, and free from all sin." — CokRESPONDENT.

A Milwauldo judge, in taxing threo lawyers' bills lecently, said :—": — " You have charged 25,000 dollars for 60 days' sorvice. These charges are infamous. They are such as men who are scoundrels and thieves at heart would make. This charge of 15,000 dollars is cut down to 1,500 dollars ; those of 5,000 oach to 500 dollars. Repeat such a piece of rapine in this court, and I will debar every one of you." James Anderson jumped into the Clutha River, Otago, a fortnight ago, and his body has just been recovered 40 miles further down the river.