MR. CHILTON AND HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2350, 17 November 1908, Page 2

MR. CHILTON AND HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —Mr Chilton lias scon _ fit to advertise Ills donation of £5 5s to tho English Church 'Building Fund. The Vestry can have no objection to this if Mr, Cliilton thinks such ail ad. vertisement to be proper. Ho, lioweven, has chosen also to reflect upon the vicar. About ten -months ago Mr. C/hilton ■Volunteered a [subscription of £lO 10s to the Church Building Fund. As a member of the Church this was a proper contribution for him to- have made, and not out of proportion to amounts given by many of perhaps less ability to give. Later, on the occasion of the sale of work, Mr. Chilton reminded Captain Ferris of his former offer and ask wliy it bad not been called for. He then gave his cheque for £5 5s to tho Captain which lie handed, in turn, to the vicar. Mr. Thomas declined to receive tho cheque and was of opinion that the subscription, should be returned. The matter was submitted to the Vestry. As a vestryman I, for one, ' refused to bo a party to ' anything which would amount -to a suggestion that Mr. Chilton, in subscribing to his .Church, had any corrupt motive. So long as _ afiy man is _ engaged m business which is recognised _ by law, and which is not necessarily immoral, he lias a right to- the privileges and responsibilities of the members of the Church to which lie belongs. The Vestry accepted my view. _ The vicar adhered to his- former decision. _ Mr. Chilton’s subscription was retained. If now Mr. Cliilton says he gave the amount for electoral purposes and not from an honest desire to aid in the restoration of the Church he has only to say so and he will at ante fwy®

back his money. Personally, so- long as I am one of the Vestry I will be no party to any inquisition 'by Church managers, as to the motives for the actions of those, who as members _>r adherents, support tlie Church, i’ho rectitude of any mail in the conduct- of his business. is for himself. A trader’s .gold may be quite as dishonestly obtained as a publican’s. Neither need bo dishonest at alii. •Judgment in either case must bo reserved to a higher Court. —I am, etc., C. A. de LATJTOUR.