THE CATHEDRAL SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 8

THE CATHEDRAL SCHEME

Sir,—l beg space to issue a timely warning to our church authorities and church people generally concerning the manner of getting money for the proposed Anglican Cathedral. 1 must own to feeling a little scared at hearing that somo of the parishes are already promising a. set sum towards the building of the Cathedral. I should much prefer to know that the authorities were hoping to receive the names and addresses of all churchmen and churehwomen with their promisee of donations and also full particulars of how many years they require in which to complete their gift. If we have faith, as a grain of mustard seed, we can believe that every penny can be obtained in this way alone, after peace is proclaimed and during a period of about five years. Do not allow a single parish to commence to get money for tho Cathedral in any of those so-called doubtful ways, for they are not ii bit doubtful, by which many parishes have eocurcd funds for themselves in the past. Of course it will be said that people won't give unless they get something in return, a euchre party, n dance, or the chance of a prize, etc. If this is true, then, poor things, they arc indeed to bo pitied for their ignorance, nnd it is quite time they were laiight. What have their teachers been doing for the last twenty years? It seems as if, only too often, the Church expects money t'roin people who have never really been taught, the duly and privilege of giving. 1 think the position was fairly well staled by ii lady, who expressed her mind to me. in regard to the cry for money by the clergy. Her exact words were: "They will have the money, and they don't care a hang how they get it." Jf wn arewilling to forego all the hundred and one objectionable means thai; are constantly made use o[ to secure funds for Almighty God, then we, indeed, may be wonderfully astonished ' at the marvellous outpouring of His blessings, so that, wo ehall say with one heart and one voice, "I never saw it. in this fashion." God demands us to give for His honour and glory alone, and nothing less is accepted by Him. The widow's mite was (he largest donation, if wn believe God, and He is a better judge in these matters than we aro, in spito of all our conceit, "for the Umi seeth not as man soeth; for man looketli on the outward appeavance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I know [ hare strong moral support, in my contention, from numbers nmongsl. my non-church brethren, but 1 want Iβ know how it is "in the house of my friends?" AVe rcciuire to study the characteristics of the serpent, as well as having n desire to be dovelike. Now is-the lime to decide which is of the most value, character or money. Shall wo seek a small blessing from God, or all tho greatest blotting He is able to pour down upon us like a. rushing, mighty wind? and 1 snr it reverently. "Seel; ye first tho Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." To the Church authorities T say: Speak with clarion notes, and tell us onco for all that, Gorl willing, a magnificent ljilo is to be raised upon the earth, for Clod alone, the foundations of which will be built on sacrifice, the superstructure likewise will he entirely and scrupulously built upon sacrifice, the stone allar will stand upon sacrifice, and the gleaming cross high and lifted up in the sunlight points to sacrifice. Never fear, the cost of all this will come forward more readily thus than by those methods which sviyinly frivolous nnd unthinking people with ' amusement. "According to your fnith be it unto you." „,,.,, , Tt is possible for a Cathedral to he little more than n whifo elephant or n ebon- plate; but Go] would not have it 60—it. will bo our fault, if it conies to thai I am thinking of a Cathedral that, will havo nothing to he ashamed of, as it points, us and those that come aflor

us, to (he tremendous realities of the Ureal; Unseen. "Walk about Sion, and go round about her, and tell the towers theroof. Mark well her bulwarks, set up her houses, that ye may tell them Hint come after. For this God is our Uotl for over anil over: Ho shall be our Guide unto ileal h."—l am, etc., A.M. October 3.