THE CATHEDRAL ORGAN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 11

THE CATHEDRAL ORGAN.

t'i 7ke rr.'ror. or "Tat rEE?s. : ' Sir,—The position of the CathedraJ Chapter in relation to the new organ was r<?.»••■ thoroughly explained in Synod by the Ai-.-hl'Uhop and also by members r.:' the ChaaV'ter and by Church Propcrty Tru?-ccs. 1' seerr.-, however, from the 'r-.trr signed '' Churebmau •'' in your i.-jue or" ilic .'>ofh rear Carre are wmc who sHII think this large sum of money ought r.-iibvr to !•'.• given to the poorer clergy, or !o some other good work. May I cXplnin ori'-i' more what has often been explained before ? The funds proposed to "be drawn upon are those of the Dean and Chapter Estat.e, "vhirh are trust funds, and can ho legally used only for purposes speciIjp,]—vi;:., to provide and maintain the f ;; hri-: and services of the Cathedral. The intention of the founders is not. iii doubt. Clearly and explicitly they meant, to reproduce the English Cathedral in yr-w Zealand. All the details are set forth: Dean, Chapter, Canons, minor Canons, Organist, Choirmaster, paid Choristers, Cathedral School, etc., etc.: and the trustees have no right to use the funds for any other purpose, unless it be subsidiary to this main intention. Therefore they cannot apply capital or interest to general Church work, however desirable it might be, without, breach of trust. Lneiclcntally, a. good half of tho collections at the Cathedral go to the maintenance of outside work —over iiSOO in the last year; hut these are voluntary offerings of the congregation- I hope I have made this clear. "Whether they did right in establishing this trust is a. matter of opinion. The point is that they did so: and there are many who will think that the Cathedral and its tine musical services do constitute a. real asset to tho Church. Anyhow, fhe money carjnot bo divcrled to other uses.

While writing, may I briefly allude to tiro other common criticisms? Nine thousand pounds appears to be a largo sum. .It. is true, that tho present organ might have been made workable in its present; position for less money; but this would only have been patchwork, and would have left the orgau still obstructing tho north transept. It was strongly felt, that the work, when done, should bo done finally and completely. It has been asked why an appeal should not have been made, to the diocese, rather than put this strain on the Cathedral finances? Because every parish in the city and diocese is already beset, with appeals for urgent causes which depend on voluntary contributions—for orphans, for education, for mission work, for re.elamal.ion. -work, not to mention the stress of mai.ntrua.ncc of Church and clergy. How could the Chapter rightly go a-begging in the parishes for a. purpose which the trustees assure us can bo safely provided out of the Cathedral funds? Of course, it will straiten the finance for a time, but. that must, be endured. There is nothing to prevent any lover of music from helping with as large a. cheque as he pleases. But. the Chapter has derided, 1 think rightly, to fall back upon its own endowments, and put no further strain upon our much-enduring people. —Yours, etc., C. W. CAERINGTOX.. The Deanery.