Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 369, 1 July 1874, Page 5

Correspondence.

DOGS IN CHURCH. (To tlie Editor.) - Sib, — I am sorry to see dogs are still frequenting the Presbyterian Church. The first letter which appeared in your paper, had the |L desired effect of owners keeping them away If- for twoj3undays ; but afterwards negligence V.was^eofn shown by the appearance of the *'£ canine fraternity in greater force than ever, c which showed that their affection for jbhe Church and the comfort of their fellow-wor-shippers was very meagre indeed. " Scottish congregations in some parts of the country contain an element in their composition quite unknown in English Churches. In pastoral parts of the country, it was an established practice for each shepherd to bring his faithful collie dog — at least, it was co some years ago in a district of Sutherland. Where the population is very scanty, the congregations are made up one-half of dogs, L each human member having his canine companion. These dogs Bit out the Gaelic ser- , Ticca and sermon with commendable patience j until towards the end of the last Psalm, , when there is a universal stretching and . yawning, and are all prepared to scamper out, barking in a most |excited manner whenever the blessing is commenced. The congregation of one of these churches determined that the service should close in a more decorous manner, and steps were taken to attain this object accordingly. When a strange clergyman was officiating, he found the people all sitting when he was about to pronounce the blessing. He hesitated and paused, expecting them to rise, till and old Scotch shepherd, looking up to the pulpit, said: 'Say awa, Sir, we're a Bittin' to cheat the dowgs.' So it appears that the Presbyterians of Lawrence still keep up the old practice, not with the faithful collie, but with a hoarde of filthy mongrels that have neither name nor pedigree, and to class them would be quite out of the question as to their respective breed; but there they aro Sunday after Sunday with their usual retinue and perpetual humping, similar to the wooden dogß which the people used to wear in Hawick, and which made a clinking noise on the pavement. A dying woman at that place had some friends by tho bed side, who said to her : " Weel, Jenny, ye are gan to Heeven ; and gin you should see our folks. ye can tell 'em that we be a' weel ; " to which Jenny replied : " Weel, gin I should see 'em, I'll tell them, but ye monna expect that I'm gane to clank clanking through Heeven looking for yer folks." So I say with Jenny that it is absurd to think that the minister can expect attentive hearers if the canine race is to be their companions, clank clanking through the Church in terrific agony, dispersing their attendants all over the Church, to the discomfort of those who have no right to submit to the peculiar whims of otherß. It is to be hoped from this time forth, that from the highest dignity to the lowest of the Church, that this nuisance will be strictly prohibited. *— I am, &c., Bow Wow.