The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-06-06 00:00:00

eorcamonbence,

REV. MR. NEAVIC AND MS OPPONENTS.
To the Editor.
Sir —Mr. Neave has been compelled to cede the point
that 'Dissenter, do exist who are not at war with the
Church of England. He has not defined which body he
charged Ina with assaulting, and has thus neither allowed
me to defend myself if I was right, nor be punished if
wrong. Perhaps enquiry into facts has taught him it was
not safe. Meantime my plea of " Not guilty of evil
intent" stands on record.
As to the Puritans, I will quote Mr. Nears, cutting out
the quotation from the Telegram and only asking You
to italicise the words on which I lay special stress. On
May 12 Mr. Neave's words are :
" The following is but one of many quotations which
is fitted to settle this question. It is from Mr. Lecky s
' History of Rationalism in Europe. He says It is
difficult to over-rate the debt of gratitude that England
owes both to her own Non-Episcopal Churches and to
those of Scotland. In good report and evil report; amid
persecution, ingratitude, and horrible wrong; in ages
when all virtue seemed corroded, and when &Poster/ had
ceased to be • stain, they clung fearlessly and faithfully to
the banner of freedom. Neither the persecution of
Quirks nor the promised toleration of James canoed
them to swerve. It is to Puritanism that we mainly owe
a, few that in Baptism! religion tusd liberty were not
do-severed, Amid all the fiuctations of its fortune, it
represented the alliance of these two principles which
the predominating Church invariably pronounced to be
incompatible.'"
In ceding, either definitely or by default, everything
contended for, Mr. Neave retreats under the very much
worn-out defence that peaceful Dissenters are few. He
should be one of the last tee think that plea anything but
worthless. Surely be will not contend that the few are
necessarily is . ong ! But I believe that he is mistaken in
supposing peaceful Dissenters are few. At the last
Weymouth Disestabliahment meeting the complaint
was of the fewness of those who did- attend, to show
interest in the Disestablistement question, and at least
one speaker was severe on loading Dissenters for not
coming. Whether few or not, we have a great principle
to hold on to, the principle that not even any of our own
ministers have the right to enforce us to fight against the
privileges or property of another branch, professedly, of
Christ's Church. Nor has any of them the right to
" rattan' us by such terms as ' weak-kneed and sickly
brethren,' "notoriety of which they seem so ambitions,
" injured innocence and piety," "peribbier “"mesa and
unworthy," "transparent folly." Moue nobodies," terms
which may win applause from "political Dissenters," but
which seem strange from She pen of a minister of the
Lard. In the singular absence of appeal by Mr. Neave
to the sole authority on Church matters, will he listen to
a human authority 1
"The best of wee,
"That e'er wore earth about Mtn was a sufferer ;
"A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit,
"The inn true gentkewn that ever breathed "
Let Mr. Heave Mks care lest he commits the" mawkish
sentimentalism " of the poet Burns, before he knew better
—in fact—

When he was beardless, young, and blate "
As a Scotsman patriot, we might bear with the untaught
boy for what he confessed so poetically afterwards—
" The rough barr thistle, spreading wide,
Arnaud the bearded bear.
I turned the weeder-clips aside,
And spared the symbol dear."
But New use inseams isourit must not be carried too
far in a Christian minister; the " weeder-clips " should be
vigorously used to prevent the thistle ill-temper from
seeding, even if it can't be rooted up. We dictate no
more to Mr. Nears than that be should let us alms. If
he thinks us wrong, we have read—" The servant of the
Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to
leach. patient ; in meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves."

Yours truly,
DISCUS.
Weymouth, May 30th, IFC6.

To tho Bditor.

Sir,—That the truth has offended Mr. Naive is evident
from the angry tone in which he writes in answer to my
WM The rev. gentleman reminds me of the lawyer,
who, having • " bad case," roundly abuses the other
side. Now, Ido not intend following Mr. Neave in this
respect, neither will I prolong $ controversy with one
who has to far lost his temper as to resort to the use of
such unchristian-like expressions as those contained in his
letter. Had these come from the pen of any other than
• minister of the Gospel (who ought, as I said in my last,
to endeavour to show forth the Spirit of the Great Heed
of the Church) I should sot has* been surprised, but
that the leader of a sock should to far forget himself
Is Astonishing.
I have no desire to dictate to Mr. Neave his course of
action neither was my letter written in that spirit, and
following the doctrines of Scripture, and the teachings of
Him we profess to love. I will not be a party to the
strife-making in which Mr. Naive and his friends seem
to delight Mr. Neave's were not my reasons for
dissenting from the Established Church, which I respect,
as far as its ministers preach the pure Gospel of Christ.
I do not approve of all the doctrines taught, neither is
its government perfect in every respect, more than that
of other churches. Raving been led casually to a
Dissenting place of worship, I there first became con-
vinced of my state as a sinner, and it was there I found
the rest which I needed. Thus, whilst I respect
, the former, I naturally (as do thousands of
others) cling to the Church of my Spiritual Birth I In
heart I am no muore Methorchman bttalgcluempgiedenuliuilltrtitabt;
than I am I
Church of Christ, I rejoice at the good which is SCCOM-
Oiled at any place of worship. If Mr. Neave, and his
Liberationist friends would cultivate • broader spirit of
Christian charity and love, and learn to be content with
the position in which it has pleased God to *ace them I
with a little less desire to "covet other people • goods,"
feel convinced there would be far more good accomplished
in our churches, there would exist greater unity among
Christians of every denomination, and that happy end be
I attained which is so much desired by
A. Loma or Pears.
I Dorchester, May 30th„ 1876.

(Should Mr. Negro desire to reply to the above letters,
and as the gentleman who introduced the argument he
hue right to do so, we shall afford him spice; but after
this week cur oolumtui will be closed to all discussions of
this nature.—Em.l

THE LENNIE MUTINY.

Constant Von Hoydonck, the steward of the Lennie, has
been named • Knight of the Order of Leopold, and the
lad Henry Troumelot, under steward, has received a Civic
Cross of the second class. Both were presented with their
decorations at Antwerp with great ceremony, one of the
English Jury who tried the mutineers being amongst those
who took port in the proceedings.