CHURCH OF ENGLAND MEETING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 232, 15 August 1873, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND MEETING.

A meeting of members and supporters of the Church of England wa/s'held'at the school-house on Monday evening last. The attendance was very good, jn spite of the. inclemency of the weather. His Lordship Bishop Nevill presided. ,' Mr. Eowlatt, the Hon. Secretary of the. Committee, was called upon to read the correspondence arid minutes of previous meetings. He announced as a summary of the collectors' efforts, that 122 subscribers had been enrolled as supporting a resident clergyman, the amounts promised amounting to £263 ss. -

In: answer to the Bishop, The Seceetaey said that he .believed there would be a good addition both incumber of subscribers, and amounts collected, in consequence of the favorable opinion expressed by many since Mr. Williams had conducted divine service in Naseby, as a great many were unwilling to support a Minister they might.not like. Mr. Robinson : In reference to what the Secretary has said as his belief, I wish .to .say, that he was quite justified in making that statement. I may say that in collecting together with Mr. Inner, care was taken not to interfere, by special pressure, to coerce subscriptions from supporters of other denominations, Among those to whom lists had been given, some took this tone. They intimated that tbey were in.favor of a Church of England ministry being established, but hesitated to promise, until they could know what kind of man was about to occupy the position. And others, not members, went so far as to say their donations were merely an earnest of what they hoped to give, andwhich was given merely to identify them- ' selves with the movement. Mr. Indee spoke" 1 in confirmation of what had fallen from his co-Collector and the Secretary. Bishop" Nevill said this was only,what he had experienced in' other parts of the diocese. Many members refrained from giving support till they were sure of success, as they did not like to join a failing cause. Perhaps,, however, an important point, which should receive earnest consideration; was relative to the placing in charge of a particular gentleman. That the. gentleman proposed to be asked to take the charge was one of large family, and therefore riot justified iri accepting, without a certainty' that it would' not result in disastrous consequences. The meeting must consider, being well aware of the high prices ruling in this- district, w.hat would be necessary to support a family of seven. A clergyman would have to. keep up a certain position, and to do so his income would have to be assured. Mr. Williams was not present, thinking it nidre delicate, to let the Church Oflicer settle the matter. He' (the Bishop) therefore felt the responsibility of deciding, more keenly. , • Mr, Indee, 'to test the feeling of the \ iheeting, would move—"That the Com-j imitce is in a position to offer £3OO a year I as a stipend to Mr. Williams." He might, say that there were a few items that would need consideration—for instance, a horse arid livery which were necessities. He.-would add to his motion that this expanse should also be. guaranteed. ■This was seconded by Mi\ : C-. F. Newma ech, and carried unanimously. ; Mr. Hobinson said there was a matter that caused a good deal of anxiety to the Committee, and that was their liability for £IOO as passage money. Would his Lordship give them some 'information ? Bishop Nevill said he was not surprised: at the reported anxiety. However, there was a resolution of the Synod guiding this matter, which was to the effect—" that if any parish should send Home for a clergyman, such parish should pay. than £SO, and the Committee wolilasubsidise that payment by a further £SO, as a loan, for the period of three months after arrival of clergyman, when it should be repaid by the paris'i. But in the event. of a clergyman leaving his charge before the period of two years had expired, he should repay the amount." This is the rule, but this case is §o far exceptional that application had been made to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for aid; This application had been met by a grant of £SO to Mr. Williams ; so that.the sum, which would.otherwise be £IOO, is lessened by £SO, This district, therefore, will not be called on for more than £SO on that score. No doubt arrangements could be ai'rived at to pay a sum down, and the balance by instalments. Mr. Indee said there wa3 still another difficulty, viz.,—the building. Of course there, is a fund already started. This it had been proposed to divert from, its original source, but it had been objected to. Was.it possible.that anything could be done in Dunedin towards helping to suppleihent our efforts? A gentleman had offered his influence, which was'considerable—he referred to Mr. Chapman, of Eden Creek—to help in any movement. Lordship hold out hope of assistance P ~,. . /

The Bishop said that no doubt the

Parsonage was the great difficulty;. It certainly was more necessary.. than .the Church, asthere were buildings available at the present time in which service could be conducted. The'main end in view was to have'the permeating influence of a' resident clergyman. He regretted the Otago diocese was so young, not being indeed fairly fledged, that it had not a shilling of public funds. He had found great arrears of work on taking charge of the diocese, so great, indeed, that ha had found himself unable to do more than hold confirmations and, as he was now doing, initiate parishes in different districts—his work, indeed, had been incessant travelling—so that as a. synodical body they had no funds from which to make grants. There was, no use in concealing facts. There is absolutely .no fund, so that we have to fall back on piivate enterprise. The meeting must not be too sanguine as to the personal aid he could give. As far as pushing their interest in conversation, or ways of the kind, he would be : only too ready, but of course the circumstances were not peculiar, and if every parochial district were to call upon him to beg for them in Dunedin, he might have rather much to do. JSTo doubt the meeting would be glad to hear from any one some scheme by which'the" difficulty might be met.' Mr._ Gktj3!itt would offer a suggestion:. That if gentlemen who have collection lists (which .are all still in hand) would ask the subscribers to allow a temporary appropriation of the Church Building Fund to parsonage purposes, he was sure it would be agreed to. He thought the subscribers on his own list would have' no objection. The sum promised, by those who. refused could be seb apart for its primary purpose. It might be put to. the meeting whether the portion of money at present lying in. the bank not be appropriated to the present want. , If the monej was thus spent, a mortgage could be drawri on it, and a fund thus raised for the church.'

Mr. Robinson thought there was very good sense in Mr. G-rumitt's suggestion.' He presumed cash in bank was not'even bringing .interest. As a contributor to the bazaar he was willing to agree to a diversion, of that fund, He might say few people have imagination enough to realise their position, or even their ability—not indeed recognising it till they are forced to do so; accordingly, he thought.until we had a clergyman, the Building Fund would remain in statu quo. The population is constantly .fluctuating, and it is therefore desirable to collect all promised moneys at once, as soine meet with misfortunes, and others leave, so~a very serious loss on anticipated collections might result, if delay was too long. No doubt the Parsonage Fund would soon • redeem the Building Fund, and liberate it for its original purpose.. ■ He did not think there would be the slightest risk in transferring the fund from one account to the other.

His Loedship thought there was a great amount of wisdom in the suggestions, but would point out'that no mortgage could be effected on a building erected on Church property, as such property, being vested in a special trust, could not be removed under any circumstances, so that the security would only be fictitious... This might be met by vesting the land in a private trust, till the encumberance was removed. If by some such scheme a personal ministration could be planted, it would not only lead to the building" ol the True Church in the hearts of the people, but would-also actually hasten the desired object the subscribers had in view. If the material fabric was not at once obtained, the church would b ■ sure to follow,, and" indeed, .as he thought, actually be hastened. ' "

Mr. Indee said that although he did not now anticipate such strong objection as had been previously conceived, still it would be as well, he thought, to see about enlisting the Dunedin support for .a supplementary fund. Mr. GtEumitt suggested that those in the room should signify their consent or otherwise to such a'transfer of the fund.

On this being put to the meeting it was seen that some fifteen or sixteen signified approval—none dissenting/. Mr. E. C. Smith proposed—" That the present Committee be empowered to borrow the money raised by the bazaar, and on the lists, and devote it for the erection of aparsonage." Mr. Newmaech protested, as being, he thought, beyond the'power of the meeting.

Onthe suggestion of the Chairman, this resolution was modified so far as simply to empower the Committee to divert the bazaar money, and to instruct the collectors to canvass the subscribers for. their consent or otherwise to such diversion of funds.

The proposition, -as amended, was carried unanimously.'' • His Loedship then suggested that all subscriptions should be first., got in, andthen" allocated as the subscribers might wish.

Mr.; Robinson drew-;attention to the necessity of making provision for house

room if Mr'. Williams accepted the charge. That it would be verj imprudent to build'just, at present, whencartage was so dear, and that some temporaiy sion would probably be necessary, as he believed Mr. Williams and family were at present unsettled. His Lordship would ask whether there was a likelihood of such temporary provision being found. At present Mr. WiLv Hams and, his family were his very welcome guests. He would not say Mr. Williams was prepared to give his consent to accept the charge. -It was no doubt necessary some tangible provision, should be offered. As the Church Officer in charge of, the business, it would be his duty to'see Mr. Williams in the'morning, and put it to him whether he will consent to accept the charge, -or not, subject to these conditions. If he accepted he would no doubt look about him for house room.'

Mr. Uobinson thought adequate resolutions • should be passed to guide the Committee. Thoy'might provide a rent allowance—at the rate of - say £4O a-year —till a house could be built.' He would move it as a resolution. Carried.

His. Lordship then said he returned his best thanks to those present for their attendance, under unfavorable circumstances. He should.,do his best, being influenced-by the rising importance of the district, to influence Mr. Williams in arriving at a favorable decision. While accepting this responsibility he (the Bishop) relied upon the members extending to Mr. 'William's, should he 1 , accept, that .-sympathy and hearty good feeling which' renders a place—whether endowed or unendowed by natural charms —a happy' home. If, however, Mr. Williams does not feel justified m accepting, with his responsibilities, this charge, he (the Bishop) would do. his best to obtain a clergyman, shy at once writing to his Commissary in England, authorising him.to select a suitable clergyman to take charge of the district. He now wished them G-od speed. Mr BoßiisrsoN moved a vote of thanks to his Lordship, which was carried by acclamation. The meeting then broke up.