NELSON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 136, 21 August 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

NELSON.

Rifles and Ammunition.—The Nelson Examiner of the 4th instant, says : —By a letter received from Major Balneavis, Deputy Adjutant General of Militia and Volunteers, we learn that the General Government require the adjutant of the Militia and Volunteers in this Province to send to Wellington, without delay, 150 rifles and 7,500 rounds of ammunition : and in the event of their not being in store they are to be recalled from those in the hands of the Volunteers. The case is represented as urgent. Repine therefore as we may at the loss of arms and ammunition which it took so many months to procure, we feel sure that none of our Volunteers will object to give up their rifles, which to them are comparatively useless, when their brothers at Wellington may even now be needing them for the defence of then.' settlement. An Unfortunate Church Difficulty.—Dismissing- a Congregation.—The following is from the Nelson Colonist of the 4th inst. On Sunday morning Nelson Church was the scene of occurrences which we hope not to witness again, and which ended on both occasions with the dismissal of the congregation without divine service taking place. The Bishop, after entering the lectern, addressed the congregation thus :—“ Dear Brethren: I am informed by the officers of this Church that there are here present 2 persons who, after being duly warned that their presence would cause a dismissal of the congregation, still persisted in coming into church. I have to intimate that service will not commence until these two persons think proper to retire.” After the lapse of a few minutes, no one having retired, the Bishop again said : —“As there are present two persons who have previously left the congregation during divine service, and although allowed time to withdraw have declined to do so, there will be no service here this morning, unless for those persons who may desire to partake with me of the Holy Sacrament, and that they may do so undisturbed I request they will meet me here at twenty minutes to one o’clock.” The bishop then retired, and the congregation withdrew. The same scene was enacted in the evening, and again the congregation was dismissed, many being greatly pained to hear several hisses as the people retired. CHURCH TYRANNY. To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir, —On Sunday evening, July 12th, I attended service at Chrtst Church in this city, when after hearing the usual evening service read, 1 felt it my duty to retire from the church, which I did in as quiet and peaceable a manner as possible, and without disturbing the congregation. You may judge, sir, of my surprise at yesterday receiving the enclosed letter from the Churchwardens, and which I think, for the best interests of all connected with the Church of England in this Province cannot be made too public. I am, &c., Wm. ASHCROFT. July 20th, 1863. Nelson, 19th July, 1863. My Dear Sir, —Having at the Bishop’s request called upon you this afternoon to enquire your reasons for leaving the Church on Sunday last, at the beginning of the sermon, and not having found you at home, we beg to state our reasons for doing so, and hope that you will furnish us with an answer. Wo are informed that much scandal and annoyance to the Parishioners has been caused by your proceedings, which the Bishop designates as an offence “ against God’s house and God’s assembled servants.” Under those circumstances two courses are open to us, viz.: — Istly. To inform you that you might be dealt with as a trespasser, in the event of your appearing in the church again. 2ndly. That you might bo publicly admonished by the officiating minister on your next appearance in the Church. The Bishop prefers to adopt this latter course, and before doing so, has requested us to inform you that he has directed us to notify to his officiating minister your next appearance in the church, —and also to give you an opportunity of making an apology to us, as representatives of the congre” gation whom you have offended. Hoping that on secon d thoughts you will see the propriety of the course we have suggested and prevent further public scandal by adopting We remain, yours truly, W. D. CLOETE, S. A. CRUSACR, Churchwardens, Christchurch (Addressed) Mr. Ashcroft. Mr. Walcot received a communication similar to the foregoing, and the following is his reply : To Messrs. Cusack and Cloete, Churchwardens of Christ Church. Gentlemen, —My reasons for adopting this public means of replying to yonr epistle are, that in case any “ scandal and annoyance” has indeed (but which I cannot for a moment conceive'to be true) “ been caused to the Parishioners,” that I may hereby express my sorrow and regret that any “proceedings” of mine should have been

misconstrued in such an unaccountable manner. Further than this, I have no reply for your “ enquiries.” I decline submitting to you any “ reasons” or “ answers satisfactory” or otherwise for my leaving Church on the occasion refered to, or for “not being found at home” —not acknowledging your right thus arbitrarily to interrogate me. As to the two threats of punishment and degradation,—without desiring to defy the Bishop, or any Churchwardens, or officiating Minister, who might be so weak in the spirit of Christianity, as to be influenced to the execution of such an unjustifiable act, as to expel me from Church as a trespasser, or degrade me in Church on a baseless charge, I will only state my resolution not to be intimidated by violent menaces from attending to worship in the Church of which I am a member, at such time as I may feel it my duty to assemble with the congregation. To the concluding paragraph of your letter I would add, that seeing “ no propriety in the course suggested,” but viewing it as ungenerous, unchurchmanlike, and unchristian, I cannot violate my conscience by “ adopting it,” and by doing so acknowledging myself a cast-off or an imbecile, frightened by vain words from a duty enjoined by our common religion. 1 am, &c., B. B. WALCOT. Nelson, July 20, 1863.