A CHURCH APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 4

A CHURCH APPOINTMENT.

AND A PROTEST. (Br Teleeranh—Pros Association.! Christcliurch, March 27. Thoro has been considerable eon« troversy lately over the appointment of a vicar to the new parochial district of St. Albans East, and a section of the congregation carried a sJtrong resolution protesting against the appointment ol' tho Rev. J. C. Mortimer on tlic ground I hat he is a Ritualist. The position is a peculiar ono in that whereas a parish has the right of a voico in the selection of thu vicar, tlioV appointment to a parochial district is entirely in the hands of tlia bishop. Bishop Julius in reply to the protest states (hat this chargo having been offered to and accepted by Mr. Mortimer, he (tho Bishop) does not propose to reconsider his action in the matter. He" suggests that those protesting will servo the church bettor by loyal support of tho vicar than by stirring up strife anil making idlo protests.

Inferring to the above-mentioned appointment, tho Christchurch "Press" states:

A new parochial district has recently been formed in connection with St. Matthew's, it being felt that tho tunc had come for tho separation of the eastern portion. The clergyman appointed by Bishop Julius to the position of vicar of the new district, ,is the ltcv. Mr. Mortimer, who has been curate at St. Michael's for the past fifteen months. This appointment has not given satisfaction to a section of tho district concerned, as they desired to have 1 ho liov. Mr. Barnott, who lias been acting as curate to tho Rev. P. B. Haggitt, vicar of St. Matthew's. Wo understnnd that the Bishop has ruled that ho will never appoint a man who has been acting as a curato in a'parish to tho position of vicar of a portion carved out of that parish, his reason for this ruling being: that such curate might crcato a taction in his vicar's parish in tho hope of being appointed vicar of any now parish or parochial district that might bo formed. There is, of course, 110 suggestion that anything of this nature has happened in tho present case. That, however, is tho general principle the Bishop has laid down as guiding him ill all those cases.

Mr. Mortimer is a son of the first vicar of St. Matthew's. He canio out from England some fifteen months ago. Tho section that object to his appointment hold that because ho has been curate at St. Michael's, ho is a ritualist. The dissatisfied worshippers have withdrawn the guarantee that they had to make regarding tho new vicar's stipend before tho Bishop would agree to the creation of tho .new parochial district. They state as their reason for tho withdrawal that they think they ciiunot. raise tho promised amount under present circumstances. Air. Mortimer, however, is going to the new chargo in spite of that.