surprised that a minister of religion should interfere in politics.
Sir, I cannot help thinking that if the said minister would devote
himself to the Water of Life -


'that gentle fount
Progressing from Immanuel's mount,' -


it would be much more harmonious with his function as a follower of him
who knew nothing save Christ crucified. Sir, I have no wish to
introduce controversial topics upon a subject like religion into your
columns, which are allotted to a different line, but I must be
permitted to observe that I fail to see how a minister's usefulness can
be stimulated if he sets class against class. Like the widows in
affliction of old, he should keep himself pure and unspotted from the
world. How can many of us accept the glorious gospel on the Sabbath
from a man who will incur spots during the week by arguing about
cesspools like any other man? Sir, I will say nothing, moreover, about
a minister of the gospel assisting to bind burdens--that is to say,
rates and taxation--upon the shoulders of men grievous to be borne.
Surely, sir, a minister of the Lamb of God, who was shed for the
remission of sins, should be AGAINST burdens.--I am sir, your obedient
servant,

"A CHRISTIAN TRADESMAN."


I had not the least doubt as to the authorship of this precious
epistle. Mr. Snale's hand was apparent in every word. He was fond of