To the Editor.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1282, 19 January 1883, Page 2

To the Editor.

Seeing a paragraph in joqriasua of yesterday relating to tt)a intended to. form in St Mark'a Otiuroh, Carterton, viz.—pew ranting—l consider it njy Da j n .. muuty to inform (as.yon failed to itate) the reaion of suoh reform, Beforo we bad our mioiiter it wM the general

cry, " Why not have a minister]" .Star"-' vice being conducted'sometimes'::founightly, sometimes monthly, if a minister was. required for n hurial, a christenifi^,' or a wedding, the want was.more.; sorely., felt. _ The result ef thiß cry \vaa that Ihft district was to ascMin^tlie 1 exact amount'of support that'wouid' be accorded j and it was found that the subscriptions far exceeded the amount required. Now, air, that we,'have a minister, and have services regularly twice, and often thrice, on a Sunday, not speaking of having the convenience,of getting any of the above rites performed at any timo they are required the overwhelming difficulty of "unpai subscriptions" arises. Every other means having f iilod, " ladies' persuasion" was tried,. with the same disastrous result; and when I say I find that only about half of those who have benefited more or les3 by ia, minister's residence, and who allowed tlieir names' to be put down as subscribers.tti the Church Fund, have now failed to keep their promises, I say it ia a disgrace to those who call themselves churchmen, more especially when .we see other denominations supporting their ministers and building their chapels without any of the paltry jealousy and.dissention we have in our church. My more enpeoial reason for troubling you is to make a suggestion to St Mark's Vestry—that of allowing the pew rents (in all conscience) to be low enough to suit the pockets of the poorest resident itiour district (viz., • 2Jd (ttTyeek for a single sitting; or,, for an enttro'pew seating five persons, 9d per week), as it is evident are. some. who« want a minister, h cl)il'r_cli m(ide.comfortable (I don't say they in their seat), besides lighting and other etceteras, Free ! There must. be a *por- . tion of the church. seats made free sittings. Apologising for trespassing on your valuable space, : lam, etc., A Cabtebt«n Chdeohman. MR MILNER STEPHEN. .. TO THE EDJTOB, . . Sie,—From the cursory-glances I have taken of the comments ahd repoflsof Mr Stephen's reputed cures ! am'flike'Jiini) inspired to ask the credulous public' to pause (not for the sake of hurting Mr Stephen's trade, but fur the s«ke' of Christian oharity) and ask themselves whether these things can be, and alio not to be led by a treatment that can nevor, logically, medicinally, or (to coin an 'expression) common sensely, be correct. Yours, &c., W. Mosse.