MR CASS ON ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 281, 14 August 1880, Page 3

MR CASS ON ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.

(Christchurch correspondent N.Z Public Opinion.)

The public of Christchurch have again been entertained by our modern Dame Shipton. Mr Cass lectured on the doctrine of “ Eternal suffering,” at the Oddfellows’ Hall one day last week. The Rev. H. C. M, Watson occupied the chair, and Mr Ick, the Mayor, occupied a position on the stage, through what (as a Mayor) he had specially to do with enternal suffering hath not yet appeared. Perhaps during his civic career he has undergone so much pain that he desired to be supported in a hope of future peace after u throwing off the mortal.” Personally, I should think

he suffered enough during Mr Cass’s lecture to last or compensate for a long period of sin. After the lecturer had concluded a wonderful discourse, in which he attempted to prove that man was not necessarily immortal

a discussion followed. Things then became lively, inasmuch as three or four gentlemen would be throwing texts of scripture at Mr Cass all at the same time. Cries of “ Let the man speak I” ''“-Fair play for Cass 1” “ Good on the drajiSr 1” and “ Give us Holy Writ, me boy I” (the latter from an hilarious Hibernian) were wafted round the heated atmosphere. And as the subject under

discussion is one upon j which the most learned “doctors” have agreed and 1 sometimes disagreed, 1 it is not to be wondered at things in the Oddfellows’ Hall on this occasion got somewhat mixed. Indeed I don’t think that Cookson’s best “ Glencoe ” a Scotch mixture for lubricating the thorax —could have produced more wonderful results in anything like the time. But the climax was yet to come. Mr Cass had got himself and his audience into such a state of confusion that he deemed it necessary to give a v sort of summary of his beliefs. Among his beliefs was the one that Christ would

again descend upon earth. This event he believed to be very near. So close did he regard the approach, indeed, that he told his audience that his belief was his chief reason for offering his business for sale. Which I may be permitted to add, is a cheerful look-out for the next man that follows him.