A RUMOUR CONTRADICTED.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1064, 18 April 1873, Page 3

A RUMOUR CONTRADICTED.

(To the Editor of the West/port times.) Sib.—lt has never been toy practice tonotice attacks made upon myself personally, and were it not that the feportp, to which I am about to refer,

affect the reputation aud welfare of the Sunday school with which I' am connected, I should pass them by in silent contempt. I have to day been given to understand by more than one gentleman, that it is currently reported in Westport that I had stated to Mr Fraser, the teacher, that I would allow no child connected either with the Roman Catholic Church Sunday School, or with the United Methodist Free Church Sunday School, to be present at the pic-nic held yestorday in connection with the Sunday School of St. John's Church, and that it is further reported that that several Roman Catholic children had applied at the entrance to the ground, where the pic-nic was held, to be admitted, and that I had refused to admit them. In reply, t beg to state that there is, no foundation for either report, or for any other similar report. I never made any such statement either to Mr Fraser, or any other person. No Roman Catholic child was turned away who applied. Several Roman Catholic children did apply to me to be admitted, and in every case 1 bade them go in. So far as I could see, the most of the children connected with the United Methodist Free Church Sunday School were on the ground, and both they and the Roman Catholic children were welcomed and kindly treated. The Rev. Mr White of the United Methodist Free Church, was there himself, by my own personal invitation, and I leave it to all candid persons to judge Whether it is likely that I should invite him, and exclude the children of his school. Whoever has given birth to the above reports is guilty of wilful falsehood, and I leave him to the verdict of his own conscience. Mr Fraser disclaims having had any conversation with me on the subject referred to, or having spoken of the matter to any one. I wish it to be clearly understood that I intend to take no further notice of this affair, and to reply to no letter on the subject.—l am yours &c, A. C. Soutab. The Parsonage, Westport, April 15, 1873.

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