KEREPEEHI CHURCH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4665, 22 February 1924, Page 4

KEREPEEHI CHURCH.

Sir, —At the public meeting held on Thursday evening, 7th inst., in connection with the Kerepeehi Undenom- ( {national Church, a private letter which I had written to the Rev, Beaufort —in reply to a circular asking how much financial assistance I would give towards the building of a Church of England at Kerepeehi—was referred to in a manner which inferred that. 1 was (1) insulting to Mr Beaufort and the Church he represents, and (2) representing that 1 was writing on behalf of the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association and Residents’ Progressive League. (This was so apparent that Mr Twist, the secretary of the League, explained to the meeting that he had not written' the letter.) Not having a, copy of the letter with me, I asked Mr Beaufpit to read the whole of my letter to the meeting. as it turned out he had it with him, and as I afterwards learned had been shown to some of those present before the meeting started. This he would not do, and to .show that my letter was perfectly in order and courteous I should be pleased if you would publish it along with this. I might add that my letter was not marked “Confidential,” but I consider that that did not give Mr Beaufort the right to make such correspondence public property without first referring to the writer.

Copy of letter to the Rev. Beaufort: "I am in receipt of your circular re the building of a Church of England in Kerepeehi township, T am not ' member of your Church,, though Mi-s Bagnall is, and if no other proposition was inder consideration we should do all we could to further your plans. As you are aware, the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association is endeavouring to arrange for the building >f an undenominational church here, to be use-1 by all the Protestant Churches. Wi feel that it would be far better G have the members of the various Churches combined and build a House of God that wouldi be a credit to oil:Christian religion than to create competition or petty jealousy, which would result in endeavours to erect three or four buildings which, besides being an unnecessary financial burden on the district, would scarcely be an object lesson to the young folk. I trust that you will give the local proposal further consideration, as I for one was disappointed in your reply to on l - inquiry.” L. A. W. BAGNALL.