Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 5 February 1884, Page 2

Not so very long ago, says the Pall Mall Gazette, a witness caused some confusion by declining to take the oath on the ground that he was a " Gnostic "—a refinement of conscience the exact nature of which ene could hardly expect a magistrate to ciate unless he happened to be still' a burdened by the memory of Greek ,*" Testament lectures. Hardly less difficulty was caused in the Clerkenwell Police Court when the prosecutor in a case of theft declined to give his evidence on oath, because he was a "cosmist," which he subsequently explained meant" much the same as a Secularist of an Agnostic." Of a Secularists the chief clerk (who must clearly be a man of the world) had often heard, but not. of a cosmist. Magistrates and their chief clerks must almost be wishing they could go to School. again, in order to learn the meaning of some d these new faiths, an acquaintance with which is one of the pieces of "general intelligence" which every schoolboy ; is expected to know in these clays,' ; . . Tie Czar's late yacht, built at a a fabulous cost, electro-lighted, gold " and silver fitted, largest in the world—the IdvacHa—is ; now ; 'a ooai hulkj'at . Sebßßtepol! '■'■ ■■;••--' ■■■-.'." •:•..;••'; ; ..,