A CLERGYMAN'S LIFE IN WESTLAND.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1188, 27 October 1882, Page 2

A CLERGYMAN'S LIFE IN WESTLAND.

« The Hokitika corresponden of the lyttelton imes writes: — "I have a few remarks to make upon a favourite diversion in this part of the colony, which may be described as "parsonbaiting." It is a simple sport, and • affords much amusement, and a mild but pleasurable excitment, whichgently s-ivnuiates nervous systems exhausted by the climate or the dullness of the I times. You take an educated man, brought up specially to the profession of a Christian minister — of any denomination or sect, orChurch. You bring him over to the West Cost, and put him in a pulpit or a reading-room. And when he is there every ignorant noodle who can just read his newspaper, every silly woman whose highest intellectual effort is to talk gossip, mixed largely with sjandal, at a five o'clock tea, confers himself or herself competent to | criticise his manners, his character, his j style- of preaching, his doctrine, his dress,, and if he is married his wife's ' manners, character, and dres3 too I And if he should happen to be an j English gentleman accustomed to the I nwo'-rs and the habits of English , gent'emon then better he had a milli ?ton-. hanged about his neck than that I he bad come, the the West Coast. Now, I I made some observations on this sub- | ject some three or four years ago, and I I speak as an outsider. But outsiders i often see the most of the game, and I have seen in the short time I have been on the Coast a number of changes amongst the ministers of religion here, and only in one case have 1 heard anything but the most ridiculous, unreasonable, and unfounded complaints. I believe, if - 1. Paul were to' return to earth and take chargo of the West I Coast parish, they would have him out of it i in two or three years, unless, indeed, he were to remain unmarried, and have plenty of money, Some would complain of his doctrine, thathe did not visit enough, some that he visited too much, some .tliat lie visited the wrong people, j and some that he was a bad preacher J a> id not quite up to the mark of his i lienors. What they want here is a j man who can preach with the energy and vicacity of Mr. v purgeon, the I scholarly dignity of Bishop Thirwall. j and the "unction" (I think unction is j the word) of General Booth of the Salvation Army. He must be young good-looking, unmarried, with an independent income of at least i>6oo a year, and pleasing manners. If any such gentleman of any denomination will come here, he may be sure of a crowded and admiring congregation— until he gets married.