RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4788, 14 May 1884, Page 2

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib,—With your permission, I beg to make a few remarks on Bey. W. E. Woolley's speech at the anniversary soiree of the Congregational Sunday School. Also a few words on two letters, signed " Church goer " and " W. Wood," that appeared in your issue. First, lam sorry to find a teacher of religion speaking contrary to the Scriptures, which he pretends to believe. Paul writes, "We speak the wisdom of God ia a mystery, and without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness." How can a man profit by reading anything wrapped in mystery, unless he got it repealed, so as to understand what he reads P and if a scholar should ask his teacher to explain what he doth* not understand, and the teacher say " You have no right to ask questions or enter into controrersy with me," to my mind that scholar must rev main in ignorance, and would gain no benefit at school under such a teacher. Peter writes thus, "Be ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." "Jesus at twelve years old went with his parents to the feast at Jerusalem, and on returning they missed Jesus, he having tarried behind. They sought him, and after three days found him in th& Temple, in controversy, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions, and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." I admire the style in which the letter is written of the one signed " Church goer," but cannot say as much for the one signed "W, Wood,'' If I may be allowed to express my thoughts, I would say, it would be far the best to avoid giving offence either in speaking or writing, and in writing on religious subjects, use Scripture language, and not such language as orthodox myths and fancies, endless roasting, and other Baying which wound the ■ feeling of those sincere in belief of the Scriptures. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, says—" Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, piving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed." Many who took great interest in Mr Wood's writings formerly, at present are dissatisfied, as he is not truthful. No doubt many are aware of a letter he wrote in reply to " Citizen," "Protestant," and «El Wqodi," where he states, " I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet." Here are tho words used by Mr Wood, after saying, <• We must rule, and the masses must submit to our dictum. 1' Well, sir, I prediot they won't; they know better. Now, sir, I leave this for the reader to draw his own conclusions.—l am, <&c,, Bomb.