RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 2

RELIGIOUS TEACHING

To tho Editor. Sir,—l see that Mr .1. 0. Taylor has leut out Hs name to somebody • who Is more Ignorant than himself on general matters, for to give \'r Taylor credit I don't believe he would be evilly of so much Ignorance as is expressed i.i the effusion over his namo In the Taranakl Dally News of August 11th. The so-called Mr Taylor accuses me of narrow-mindedness and t-'gotlveness. But the term requires no comment from mo. The readers of the Daily News can judgo for themselves who Is nar-row-minced, Intolerant and meddlesome. Mr Taylor's altarl; was on a public man who represented the Stratford district, first on the Ccnnty Council for many years, then as member of Parliament for a good number of years. In his capacity as a public man he represented all classes and creeds in his district. In die position of a military officer ho led all deeds and classes of men, and Is still aspiring to represent the district In Parliament for another terra. In the face of all this l.nw could any sane person take exception to Major Hine taking part In any ceremony that tny class of people in his electorate might invite him to? Besides Major Hlno's church feels the absolute necessity of adopting religious teaching in their schools also. They know that if they want good honest, honorable citizens that we must teach the young the fear and love of God, the Ten Commandments, the Christum Doctrine In general, and that we must impress on the voung mind that we have a future worth fighting frtx. Otherwise we cannot expect much from the yi.ur.g generation Ho reckons that i forget being a gentleman myself. I may Inform him that my country's chief failing is that too many r,r her sons are gentlemen, this being the rent "by they were deceived. by trickery, iiii.v: .: certain people for honest men like then.KMu.'i. lam not aware of any act of my life thai would not comparo with that of a gentleman. But if It is ungentlomanly for ine to fight for my rights I am prepared io forfeit the title of gentleman. It is the materialist who is Ignorant of the existence of God. Apparently Mr Taylor doesn't put down Immorality, robbery and such kindred acts as r.o crime. Note the business every day in the week in the crimim-1 courts in all parts of a Utile country of a million all told. Ho wys Ireland should be the clearest of crime of any country. Our friend, if better versed in statistics, would know that Ireland is by far the clearest country on the face of the earth from crime, and as far as grievances are concerned they are non-existent. That oi.y serious crime committed In Ireland Is the result of tyranny. This was proved in 1904, when tho Government In Dublin Castle thought the country was getting too quiet and sleepy, and they were In danger of losing their fat billets for want of work. They very soon hit on a brilliant scheme and organised a band of policemen, who had innocent men arrested and sent to goal for various terms, ranging from 18 months to two years for crimes the police themselves had committed. When caught red-handed, were they punished? No, they were told they could loiter about the depot I l'i Dublin and draw their pay or go to any part of the British Empire and draw their lay for doing nothing. See British Parliament reports.—l am, etc., JOHN DIGGINS, I Inglewood, 20th August. |