ALTAR AND CROSS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 6

ALTAR AND CROSS.

'petition; FOR REMOVAL REJECTED. ((By-ToleirraDh.—Special OorrMoondeat* .V' r ; I : ■!' Ghristchuroht.August 12. . v A. special and largely attended meeting ol pariskoii'ors and worshippers'of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Ashburton, was; held - bn Wednesday,, a-s the outcome of. a numerously signed : petition,', which, hid beenrpresehtcd to tlio vicar and churchwardens 1 praying that an altar-table and cross, recently placed; in 'tho'sacristy,of..the new chance], bo reinovou, andUh'ai thp. former' eommuuiori-tablo be ro.placed." 1 '<>]Y. r '„ sf :: <' , ,'The' vicar' stated that .'the .'.former, coin-, m union table,waS'a mere "box," which;had been draped, and that the present altar-tablo waSj in fact, ah historical, communion-table: in the proper sense oT the word, wliich had for 1 many vcars' been' in• use in the Christ-" church Cathedral., The cross' was_ also Of much historical "value, 'and .it ako had bc<av in use for many years in. the cathedral; and both were a present-from the Cathedral Chapter -to, St: Stephen's Church..Byi;a faculty from the 1 bishop tho cross had been, placed on a retable or shelf above the table, but not on ; ,tho .table itself, .wiiJwut tho .'slightest , wish or thought on tho port of hint* self or tlio churchwardens to introduoo ritualism into tho church.- vHe would bo -one o( the very last'.to'countenance ritualistic prao '.Mr.::Fcrriman,. as.,one of .thos© who. hadsigned the petition, said ,tha.t . a 'nuniber of those who had signed' the petition; had .been ■worshipping in the church for periods varying from ten, years up to thirty- years and over, .and, if-.the cross, were allowed, to : remain, it wouid-bo painful,to these earnest worshippers; and• zealous church members.. ; A,lengthy, discussion ensued, and a motion that the cross be removed was -eventually, • negatived by 66 votes to' 33. . .v -.