THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SMITH.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 256, 16 September 1902, Page 3

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SMITH.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l read in your Saturday’s issue an epistle emanating from that Godly Saint, John Smith, which I cannot help characterising as the most impudent and malicious letter that was ever placed before a British public. This eminent apostle of Wesley worship tries to make the workers believe that because a man goes on to a farm to try and live that he loses all sense of manhood and becomes a brute to his felloes. Of course, not mvy behove him, only a few of his own calibre. Tnerefore! while the farmers may admit ihit they me somewhat beneath the standard of this di-ciple of Chris' r v.y may lay the flattering unction to their souls that they are not had 10 bat as St. John would have us believe. The greatest wonder, sir, to me is that a pub ic blessed with tie presence of such an eminent example of the Nazarene in our midst are not convetted en mtieae and at once take up our cross and follow him. The Book says that the prayers of a righteous man (mark, not. a woman but a man) availuth | much. Now. here’s a job for John ; while he is labouring, struggling and sweating to uplift the wage-earner could he not devote oome of his time portioning not the Arbitration Court but the Higher Court for the sins and wickedness of these wretched farmers. Now, sir, anyone who knows this pious happylooking man could not but believe thst he would sneered if only he would plead long enough. Have you ever noticed, sir, on passing this pious Go id Samaritan the hallowed influence surrounding his stately figure, so much so that one is almost constrained to become one of his disciples straight away. Gn pissing h m the other day I was favourably -uum with the difference between hra and myselt, and especially between him •••nl two of those demm mill owners (as hi calls them), snch a halo of righteousness seemed to overshadow him that even my wretched heart almo-t gave way ami the contrition of my soul almost brought tears into my eyes, but I mustered up courage and Bin-)tu my breast and thanked God that I was not as other men—not even the righteous agitator. We need net wonder, sir, why Dr Torre is not visiting this Sodom and Gomorrah of ours, when the life of a gentleman like the object in question has no effect upon the adamantine hearts of these land crabs. The labours of the Yankee would be futile and vain. I do not see anything for it but to sweep these diabolical farmers into the sea and let John Smith and his followers have New Zealand to themselves. I worked in a paddock once with this good man when we had to hand bind the grain, and, oh, he made my h art sick, not by his prayers hut by his growling. I should almost imagine that lie was born growling, but not being present when lie first saw the light I am unable to say, but i' he was not ho mtm have acquired the good quality soon after. On another occasion I was feeding a mill, and all I could get out of this exceptionally good, clever, reasonable and just man was “ Rush it through.” He was then studying the claims of those villans of workers called farmers. Having tiespassed too much on your valuable apace already, I must draw this epistle of Peter to a close by stating that I am a worker, and I have never been idle and I am afraid it will not fall to my lot ; therefore I shall have to graft as long as life remains, but should I want a mate to work with I would not like to contaminate the good man by accepting him as such. Thanking you, sir, in anticipation,—Yours, etc., Worker