ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3135, 15 July 1881, Page 2

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

[To the Editor of the Daily TbceSuaph] Sir,— Such a ridiculous childish effusion as that which appeared in the columns of your contemporary yesterday, signed " Truthful James," I thought not worth replying to, but as—no doubt fretting at being taken no notice of—he rushes into print again this morning with a still more absurd letter, he shall have a reply. In the first place it would be rather difficult for the very few low church members in tbe congregation to build a church for him, and the style of man that be eaya his relation at home could procure would very gladly come out for a far less sum than £250, as about £50 a year would be his salary there. In the second place he knows nothing about the subject he ia writing on, or else he would have heard that the surplices were assented to unanimously at a large meeting of the members. High Ritualism indeed ? I never attended a church where tbe services were conducted more in a low church style. "Truthful James" evidently is one of those—happily few in uumber—in the church who would like the beautiful church service mumbled over in a sleepy dreary tone, and a Bermon preached of say three-quarters of an hour longflat, stale, and unprofitable—to send him to sleep. He also wants to know why £70 is paid for a residence for our clergyman. I will tell him. Tbe Rev. Mr Hovell—l noticed "Truthful James" in his letter styled him Mr Hovell; perhaps in his zeal for "vigorous struggles" he objects to the word Rev.—a number of the members and church officers insisted on his removing to a better bouse, as his health was too valuable to be exposed in such a filthy hole. To his sneer that if one man can live happily in it another can, I would reply that ia not his business; if the gentleman now occupying tbe old parsonage likes to put up with discomfort at the cost of a small rent. He also forgets to deduct the £30 received from the £70 paid away, leaving only £40 actual rent, which is a much greater saving than building a new parsonage. If time permits I will say a few words to "A Member of St. John's" to-morrow, only telling him now that he is not in the majority, and so far as the Bishop is concerned he has no right to interfere with the Incumbent or his congregation.—l am, &c, English Church Membeh. July 15, 1881.

P.S.—I find since writing the above that a further sum of £30 per annum ia paid for part of the ground, so that actually we are only paying £10 a year rent for the house the Rev. De Berdt Hovell is residing in.