CHURCH FOR KEREPEEHI

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4660, 11 February 1924, Page 3

CHURCH FOR KEREPEEHI

MEET4NG OF RESIDENTS.

proposal deferred. In accordance with a decision of the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association and Citizens’ Progress League a public meeting was held in the Kerepeehi Hall on Thursday evening, last to discuss the proposal to erect a church in the township. The various ministers of religion who visited the district were invited to be present, and Messrs Stewart (Presbyterian), Loving (Latter Day Saints), Beaufort (Anglican), and Brown (Methodist) attended. In the absence of the chairman of the association Mr W. Booth presided. There were about 25 present. including three ladies.

The chairman said that it was thopinion of a number of residents That one church of an undenominational nature would be preferable to many small churches. The ministers had been invited to be present to give their views. Mr Stewart said that the word undenominational was a very elastic one. It might.be termed unsectarian. He would suggest the word interdenominational. He could not see why an interdenominational church would not be a success, but he would not tolerate an undenominational church, where anyone could hold service. Tn regard to the finance, one denomination could advance this until such time as the various groups decided to branch out, when the building wotill naturally go to the denomination that advanced the money. In his opinion a building of sufficient size could bo erected for four or five hundred

pounds. Tn reply to the chairman Mr Stewart said that he could not say if the Presbytery would agree to its church site being utilised for an hiteidenominational church. Personally he would be favourable, and would approach the presbytery on the matter. Mr Beaufort said he could not see any great difference between the words undenominational and interdenominational. If the Church of England entered into the project >t would certainly expound its own doetrine.. Prior to his receiving notice of the meeting he had sent out a circulai letter to the. Anglicans of Kerepeehi asking their opinion. The response favoured going ahead with the project. The fitting of any other church required much alteration to suit the Church of England, for it recognised the altar rather than the pulpit as the most important. He thought that if the Anglicans built a church it would serve all the people of Kerepeehi. . Mr Brown said he had only been in the district a . few weeks, so was not in a position to gauge the strength of the" various denominations in Kere- ! eehi, but from what he could see he i bought it would be futile for any of them to undertake a building Scheme, il would be a burden on any one body, lie was in favour of an interdenominational church, but wi.th a flight pro'so, as he had had rather a bitter experience with one such church. When ilie town .in which it was situated c row various denominations broke ; way and built churches of their own. Lach church then had a big debt, and desired to sell the publicly owned i irlding, which, however, was still being used by some denominations. He .- uggested that should the proposal be gone on with, that the Ratepayers’ Association elect a committee to control it, and that it be established that no denomination had any prior right. Mr Loving said that much had been said in harmony with his thoughts. • However, an objection had been raised by one speaker to any body coming into th§ church. He desired to ask Mr Stewart if he objected tp the Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of. ] ;tter Day Saints. Mr Stewart referred to this as the Mormon Church, but upon Mr Loving objecting he withdrew the remark. On. the same question being referred to Mr Beaufort he replied that having .heard that it did not stand for polygamy he would not object. Continuing, Mr Loving said that he v. onld certainly join in with Mr Brown s scheme, but a means of uniting Mr Stewart and himself would have to be found. He favoured an interdenominational church. The meeting was: then thrown open for general discussion. In reply to Mr Hoff Mr Stewart said that if an interdenominational- church was erected and the management decided to permit the Latter Day Saints to use the building he would certainly favour using the building on the day allotted to him. in reply to the chairman Mr Beaufort said that in his opinion his Church would not permit its site being used as a-n interdenominational church site. ■Mr Brown was of the opinion that his controlling body would not object. Mr Frecklington said that it was established that a church became the property.of the site owners immediit was erected. Mr L. A. W. Bagnall said that the only course to take for an interdenominational building would be to purchase another site. Mr W. Thompson said that if it was left to the Ratepayers’ Association to build a church there would not be x building for ten years. Mr Booth said that as the pi ime mover he had been thinking of the children. He did not think a public hall, usually used as a place of pleasure, had the right atmosphere for the religious instruction of the young. It would be a test of the citizenship of the - people of Kerepeehi to decide whether they would support their own denomination or the interdenominational church, which would better serve the interests of the whole district. The chairman then asked for a motion to test the feeling of the meeting, but none was forthcoming. Mr Brown said that apparently the association . members were not very on the matter. To erec., a church was a big undertaking, ami f required- much work. If more enV thu’siasm was not shown it would be useless going ahead. • The chairman said. that -the association had only convened the meet-

mg of the public. Mr Loving said that little enthusiasm was being shown. Mr Hoff said that while the association had suggested an undenominational church the people would not s.upport the proposition if another building wais to be erected. Mr Twist regretted the remarks regarding the lack of enthusiasm. The attendnace disproved them. Apparently evreyoiie was waiting for .someone else to move.

To test the feeling of the meeting Mr Booth moved : “That the citizens of Kerepeehi are not desirous at the present time of having an iaterdenomiimtiohal church erected.” As this prohibited a motion in favour of the proposition Mr Bootii agreed to withdraw his motion in favour of an affirmative one by Mr Twist. Mr Twist then moved : “'"hat If 75 per cent, of those present are in favour of it, we will endeavour to build an undenominational church.” Air Bagnall seconded pro forma. t,s only fourteen voted for it, the motion was lost. Mr Twist moved that the meeting adjourn for six months. Seconded by Mr Loving and carried unanimously.