The Tumeka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1889. THE REV. GEO. BARCLAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1983, 17 December 1889, Page 2

The Tumeka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1889. THE REV. GEO. BARCLAY.

Circumstances have so far prevented us from recording the deep regret we feel at the Eev. Mr Barclays resignation of the charge of the Presbyterian Church of Geraldine. He is a gentleman of whom not only a parish, nor a district, nor a sect, but a whole nation might be proud. His scholarly attainments, his ripened learning, his extraordinary gifts of oratory, are certainly such as few are gifted with; intellectually bp was an ornament not only to the religious sect of which he has long labored as a minister, but to the whole of South Canterbury, and if he leaves it, as in all probability he will, his loss will be felt, As a minister of the Gospel he has labored hard, and has had many an adventure, and many a narrow escape by flood and field m pursuing his calling. As a private citizen and a gentleman his many virtues have made him dear to almost every one who has come in contact with him. His was no narrow exclu-

sire creed; he was broad in his sympathies and broad in his views, and liberal and generous in his deportment towards those from whom he differed. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to other denominations, and to countenance and support every effort which seemed to have for its object the public good. He has been particularly active in educational matters, and has been connected with the South Canterbury Board of Education since its inception. He has been the guiding genius of that body all along, and has left on its by-laws and regulations the stamp of his vigorous and clearsighted intellect. In many other ways Mr Barclay has been a useful and prominent citizen for about a quarter of a century in South Canterbury, and it is certainly a matter for regret that he should now leave it. He will doubtless leave it, for notwithstanding his determination not to “canvass,” as he himself has said, he will not be long without another church. We feel certain that before long some congregation will have the good sense to give him a call without any canvassing. Men of his extraordinary abilities will not be set aside at such an early period of life; he is too valuable to be treated in that manner, and it will surprise us if he is allowed to remain in Q-eraldino long after his connection with the local church ceases. We therefore feel sincere regret in having to part with him, and we wish him every success wherever he may go.

SIR THOMAS ESMONDE. In our article on the visit of Sir Thomas Esmonde to Temufca we fell into an error. We stated that Sir Thomas was a Protestant, but we have since ascertained that this was altogether incorrect. Sir Thomas is a Catholic, and is desirous that this fact should be made known, lest it should be said that be is tryin? to travel under false colors. It is most extraordinary how it was that the idea that he was a Protestant gained currency. Many of the North Island papers set him down as a Protestant, and every one here was fully satisfied in that respect until the fact was brought out accidentally. When he visited the Catholic church, and acted as a Catholic, those present who believed him to be a Protestant were astonished. On being questioned on the subject subsequently, however, he expressed regret that such an impression should have gone abroad, lest it should bs said that he had connived at spreading it, and expressed a desire that it should be corrected, We have, therefore, made the correction, not because we think it makes any difference, but because we think it right that the truth should be known. His meeting in Temuka was a great success; he has himself said that it was the best “engineered” meeting he had addressed out of Sydney, and its results have surprised everybody. The great majority of those present were Catholics, and firmly believed that he was a Protestant. To them, therefore, his religion made no difference whatsoever. The Protestants who took part in the meeting would have done exactly what they did had they known he was a Catholic. Religion has nothing whatsoever to do with the matter, it is purely a question of polities, but we have thought it better to correct the error we made than lie under the suspicion that we made an erroneous statement in order to forward the cause which Sir Thomas Esmonde' advocated.