ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 131, 31 October 1874, Page 4

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING.

The usual annual church meeting following upon the conclusion of the session of the Diocesan Synod of the Anglican Church took place last evening in the College Library, and was largely attended, mainly by ladies. The upper portion of the gallery was devoted to an exhibition of objects of ecclesiastical furniture, &c, which attracted aconsiderable share of attention. The Right Rev the Primate occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings of the meeting with prayer. The Chairman said that the object of meeting on this occasion was that from the reading of the papers, and the discussion which he hoped would follow thereupon, they might receive information upon various subjects, and perhaps give rise to thoughts which might be useful to them. Papers would be read by the Rev J. W. Stack on “ Maori Christianity,” on “ Education in New Zealand, contrasted with that in England ’ by Mr Palairet, on“ Education” by Rev H. B. Cocks, and if time permitted a paper by the Dean entitled “A Crusade against Intemperance ” He would wish to say a few words on the subject of religious education, and he must say that he regretted to find that the public journals of the province had taken opportunity to attack the clergy upon this subject. Now he wished to point out that their Synod was as equally a representative ®f the whole body of the Church, the laity as well as the clergy, as the Provincial Council was the representative of the people. The laity had an equal voice in the deliberations, and further than this, the laity had quite as much interest in the religious education of the children as the clergy themselves, because though they were more particularly set apart for this purpose, their efforts were but secondary to the teaching of the parents, whose responsibility in this matter was fully as heavy as that of the clergy. It was therefore their duty, both clergy and laity, to see that their children were taught according to the teaching of the Church. Therefore he considered that they had been hardly dealt with by the journals and those writing to the journals. They could not go outside the teaching laid down by the Church; they could not, like other denominations, choose their own line of teaching. Now, as to the charge of being in opposition to the Government; would it be said if the Church had maintained her own schools that she was acting in opposition to the Government? He thought not, no more than the private schools, which were numerous in Christchurch, could be said so to be in opposition to the Government, The Church were desirous of availing itself of the advantages seemingly offen d by the Government Ordinance, but it was plain that one year committees might be elected who would allow of ministers going into the schools; while next year another committee might come into office who would refuse to grant such privileges. Therefore bethought they had been unjustly d< alt with, and ho hoped the Government would see their way as a matter of simple justice to remove that clause, so as to allow of that religious instruction being given to the young during the weekday, which they felt it incumbent upon their consciences to give. He had thought it only his duty to speak out plainly his mind upon this subject, considering what nad been said of them on the matter. Another subject which he wished to speak upon was the necessity of Churchmen and Church women combining together in the way of guilds or associations for the purpose of assisting in the spread of church work throughout the whole diocese, and affording to those sparsely peopled districts the advantages to som« extent at least enjoyed by the churchmen in Christchurch. Other objects for which the members of the church might join together we'e,the diffusion of Christian knowledge and pure literature throughout the province, and the erection of the Cathedral church of the diocese. A guild was already formed for the latter object, and though the contributions were small in amount, yet the gross total was something considerable, sufficient, he trusted, to enable them to complete the western doorway according to a plan recently received from Sir Gilbert Scott. He would like to see all churchmen joining this guild and helping forward the work. Another association which was new to them here, but which had engaged the attention of Synod, was one for the suppression of intemperance, and this, he hoped, would also receive support from the members of their church. By this it was not meant to enforce total abstinance, but temperance, a virtue which was inculcated by the Sciiptures, and was one of the highest virtues of the Christian. While recommending these associations, he would earnestly impress upon them not alone to look upon these associations as the end of all work in the church, their right end and aim was to elevate the mind and bring them nearer to God. They might be great successes, but unless they elevated the mind and refined the heart so as to lead them nearer to God, they failed of their true object. There was no doubt that it was necessary in their branch of the church to combine together more, and to aid each other in good works. He was afraid he had already exceeded the time he had allotted to speakers somewhat considerably. He would, therefore, call upon the Rev J. W. Stack to read a paper on Maori Christianity. [Applause.J The Rev J. W. Stack then read an interesting paper on the snl ject, giving illustrations of the weak of the miss on. The Yen Archdeacon Harper, Rev G. P. Mutu, and Mr Taraata Tahuhu spoke on the subject of the paper. The Rev H. B. Cocks then read a paper on the history of “ Religious Education in England.” This was followed by a paper on “ Religious Education in Canterbury,” read by Mr J. G. Palairet. The Very Rev the Dean, in the course of his remarks on Mr Palairet’s paper, said he fully believed that the great majority of the people of Canterbury were desirous of having religious education imparted to their children, and the reason why so great stir had been made was from the fact that the system now in force, though professedly unseotarian, was really denominational in its character. He contended that the way in which the Ordinance was being worked was far better than the Oidiuance itself. The Very Rev the Dean then read a paper entitled “A Crusade against Intemperance,” in which he besought the aid of those present and persons generally in bringing about a reformation of many of the customs of society, sncli as •‘shouting,” excessive toastgiving at pnb'ie dinners. &c., and nn ed the establishment of inr roved lod.nng houses for mechanics and others, so as to remove them from the sphere of temptation,

The Bishop hiving pronounced the Benediction, the proceedings of the meeting terminated. Those present then proeeeded to examine the objects of ecclesiastical art, k<\ which were exhibited in the western end of the gallery. In the first bay were exhibited plans of the Cathedral by Sir Gilbert Scott, monumental brasses of knights, and engraving of William of Wykeham, in surplice, with crozicr, &c. In the second bay to the westward were several chalices and patens, veils, and covers for chalices, worked most artistically together, with altar rails, standards, and a jewelled enamelled cross exhibited by Messrs T. J. Maling and Co There were also exhibited some pretty book marks, the colors representing the various seasons, and some excellent specimens of embroidery, the silver trowels presented to the Right Rev the Primate, on the occasion of laying the first stone of the Cathedral and Trinity Church, Lyttelton. At the western end of the gallery was placed a beautifully worked lectern fall, a model of a stained glass window, some very handsome brass lecterns, altar rails, gas standards, and chandeliers, sent by the ladies of St Michael and All Angels. Hanging f.iom the wall was a velvet pall, having a large white cross in the centie, and close by, a magnificent velvet altar cloth. In the bays on the s mthern side of the building, were a further collection of monumental brasses, very antique, and a pretty watercolor drawing of the proposed new church at Avonside, the first stone of which was laid a few days ago. The whole collection was very unique, and, until now, few were aware that the province possessed such a collection of church furniture, &c.