RELIGION AND MORALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4967, 5 March 1895, Page 3

RELIGION AND MORALS.

The following circular, sent to representatives of the various denominations, by the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand," and the replies thereto, have been placed at our disposal :

Tin; Maxse, Jlasterton, December, ISU4.

At the last meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to

'• That the Committee on tlio State of Religion ami Mora's be directed to open up negotiations with the representatives of Sister Churches, willi n view to nnilnl aclim against the clamant evils of 'Gambling, Social Impurity, and Intemperance.' " Wo recognise that till Ministers and followers of the Holy One, are waging' war against these Social plagues, but it appears to us, that great good would result from 1 united public action.' May 1 trouble you to say what attitude the Church you represent, takes up with regard to fnvthev repressive legislation dealing with these evils? Will you kindly let mo know if you approve of united action on any or all of the following lines ? : 1. Gamiimxu.—To demand legislation, which would make the publication, in newspapers or otherwise, of matter inciting to betting, a punishable olfcncc; also the prohibition of the Totalisator.

2. Social iMruun v.—(l) Action having for its aim, legislation which would raise the age of consent to 18 years; (2) To demand, at the hands of the police, the stringent enforcement of Sections 1-13 and 144 of the Criminal Code, 1893, against houses of ill-fame. 3. h'TDii'Kiuxci;.— I The attitude of our Assembly on the Legislative aspect of the Temperance Mom is set forth in the following recommendation that was agreed to in 1832: " This Assembly renews our oft-repeated testimony in favor of Local Option by direct vote of the people at the ballot-box. An answer at your earliest convenience would oblige, Yours faithfully. Itoi'.KitT Wood, Convener of Committee.

lIEI'MES ■— Fi:om Bisiioi' Mui.ks, of Nmsox, (Church of England). Nelson, Jan. 8,1895.

My Dear Sm,—l have duly received the circular issued by the Committee on the State of Religion and Morals under the authority of the Presbyterion Church and signed by yourself. In answer lo the two questions addressed to me 1 reply to this first, viz What altitude'the Church J represent takes up with regard to further repressive legislation dealing with the evils of gambling, social impurity, and intemperance?" That the Church I represent has, as a body, never aimed at any general agreements upon the details of the repressive legislation.lt would desire .dealing with the evils mentioned iu the question. With respect to the second question, viz: "Do I personally approve of united action on the lines specifically mentioned in the circular ?" I reply that J. think : 1. Great good would result from united action. 2, It would be impossible to secure the united action of the whole body I represent in the cases of any one of the details specifically mentioned. 3. It would be inexpedient to identify a whole church with any one of such details because (1) public opinion on such details undergoes such rapid change tha(; pjany sophistical minds would be thereby Jed to consider the principles of Christian morality no less unstable ; (2) these subjects require special study and therefore such details cannot be handled wisely by a genetal assembly ; (3) united action should be £he united action of specialists from the various churches who can cordially agree and uro duly qualified." From Bey. D. McNicoi,.

President Wesley an Conference, Auckland, Dec, 13,1894. Dear Sir,—l think J may safely say on behalf of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of N.Z. that we " approve of united action " on all the lines you mention. Anything that onr Church can do to remove the evils arising from gambling, social impurity and intemperance, we shall bo delighted lo do in connection with the Presbyterian Church of N.Z., and all the other denominations that are working for righteousness.

From the Rev. W. K. Woou:y, President Baptist Union of N.Z. Thames, Dec, 28,1894, Dear Silt,—l am most happy to inform you in reply lo the circular forwarded that the Baptist Hjiion of i N.Z. is in entile accord with your General Assembly on the three questions submitted. Resolutions covering the whole ground were unanimously carried at the annual meeting of 1893 and were again endorsed last month, at the recent meeting of the Union, I am quite sure our committee will he very willing to cooperate in any joint action. From Rev. J. Guy, Primitive MetliodietOonfereuco. Wellington, Fob. 15,1895,

Dear Sir,—Your circular letter was duly considered by our Conference, wbicb mot recently iu this City, and I am instructed to reply

that as n Church we most cordially appreciate the sentimonts expressed therein upon the great evils of gambling, social impurity and intemperance which are menacing the public weal, and furthorwe shall belieartily willing to co-operato with your Church and tho sister Churches of tho Colony with a view tosnchjointaction as may be necessary to bring about legislative changes and others which shatl be best fitted to give effect to the sentiment of the Christian community,

Prom the Rev. Jajius Ciiisholm, Convenor State of Religion Committee of Otago Presbyterian Church. Tin; Jlaxse, Milton, Dec. 29,1894, Deai; Jlit Wood. —1 am sorry that your circular did not reach me before the meeting of our Synod. In that case I could have got the mind of the Synod and been able to speak with more authority than 1 can do now, 1 ■can only say in reply that so far as 1 know the attitude of the Church,is very much in the direction indicated in your circular. . . , You, may confidently reckon on our hearty sympathy and aid.