THE CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4873, 10 November 1894, Page 3

THE CHURCH.

The following letter received by the Rev. John Dukes (Ministerin charge of the Masterton Wesleyan Circuit,) from the Rev. A. C. Yorke (Incumbent of St, Matthew's Anglican Church,) has been banded to ns for publication:— Tlio Parsonago, Masterton,. Not., 6th 1891. AevJ.Dukes, Masterton. Mr Dkab Me Dukes,- Your Sunday School Secretary has courteously sent mc an invitation to be present at your Anniversary Soiree on tlio 9th. I reply to yourself, as you have more to do with my answer than he. I had hoped the other evening to bo able to speak to you about it, but had not the opportunity eh you left so early. I must decline tlio invitation, which I am suro was kindly meant j and I hope my reason will he kindly cipresscd, and kindly received. At the social gathering to welcome me I spoke about holding to Principle. It is upon Principle that I must decline tlio invitation. I cannot tako part in any rejoicings ovor tho divisions of the Church of Christ; and the moro especially when your special division is so far sundered from all those principles which John Wesley insisted should berccognised,and which by his writings, the acknowledged standard of Methodism, are constantly inculcated. At anyrate, I am a Churchman upon Principle, and, though I am ready to acknowledge all good work done by Methodists, I am bound to stand to my Principles, There ii plenty of useful work in which we can work side by side, in prayorfulhope that one day the Lord's petition may be fulfilled "that wo may all he one," I must add my regret that you should take Church cluldren away from their Sunday School by seeking their aid in your festivities. Yours failhhilly, Alex. Campbell Yobo,