THE CHRISTIAN MINISTERS OF OTAGO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 334, 28 February 1874, Page 3

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTERS OF OTAGO.

The following letter, with the above heading, by Dr. Stuart of Duneclin, to the " Daily Times," is too good to escape notice, so we reproduce it for the benefit of those who do not see our morning contemporary :—: — TO THE EDITOB. Sic. — Judging from the leaders and letters whioh have been appearing in the " Times " at intervals for months, it is not for want of trying if, by this time, the merchants lawyers, mechanics, and people of Otago generally, are not of your opinion that their ministers are muffs ; and of course not only incapable of giving instruction in their own department but also utterly undeserving of bread and butter. This is your opinion, and if you have sufficient force to prevail on the people to abandon their ministers, I suppose they will just do what many good men and true have done — turn to something else, as stone-breaking, store-keeping, cockatooing, or newspaper editing — for thank God, none need starve in Otago, with its genial *skies and broad acres of waste land ! My object, however, is not to turn the edge of your ferocious attack — for who knows but we may come out of its pillory with our life whole in vs — but to point out that you are making a use of Dr. Begg's phrase " clerical infirmary " which he never intended. Accompanying him on an excursion to the country, I, naturally enough, pointed out to him the extensive bounds of the original parishes, and mentioned that Mr. Johnston, of Port Chalmers, used to travel on foot between the Port and the Waitaki, calling on all the settlers and holding service in every place where he could muster two or three families — and that even now some of the ministers ride from 10 to 30 miles every Sabbath in conEection with their work. I also ferquently remarked on the comparative youth and energy of our settlers adding " these things should teach you people at Home t hat it is of no use to send us ministers who are not capable of enduring hardness." His reply was, "When I get Home I will tell Dr. Adam and the Colonial Committee that you require vigorous men, and that on no account must they regard Otago as a ' clerical infirmary. 1 " During his stay Dr. P>egg met with many of our ministers, and so favourably was he impressed with their ability and attainments that, in speaking of our Theological College, he pressed upon myself and others to re-elect the Professor and tutors from our own ministry. Thirteen years ago our instructions to the Home friends who take J the trouble of selecting ministers for us, was to look out for men of good parts, good senge, and physical vigour, on the ground that their ministry would be addressed to j congregations with a much larger proportion of the young and the strong, and -ollected from extensive districts. Having some knowledge of the Clmstian ministry in our Province, I do not hesitate to say, if instruction in religion, the visitation of the sick and dying, the comforting of the sorrowful, the guidance of the inexperienced, and the conducting of public worship, are of social importance and value, that they attend to them efficiently aud cheerfully, eren ivhen the duty entails a j long and weary journey. They do not eat the bread of idleness. But why does the leading journal single them out for periodic attack ? They do you no harm, but, on the contraiy, they support the Press, and to a man recommend the families of their people to provide themselves with a newspaper. From house to house they carry on the woi'k of education, as well as of Sabbath Schools. Besides, I venture to say that they are the fast friends of our schools of all sorts ; and, let me also tell you, that in the great majority of our settlers they have friends and supporters who will not fail them. If, however, I am mistaken as regards their character and tho esteem in which they are held, and you right — why, it is not asking too much to let such dolts and idiots quietly clear out or starve. For one, I will not again trouble you with a defence of my order, nor, should the worst you see in store for us be realised, I promise I will not stop at your door, hat in hand, for either cash or compassion. — I am, | February 26th. B. M.-9tx:aht, ,