Church of England Constitution.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 633, 8 May 1852, Page 3

Church of England Constitution.

To the Editor the New Zealander. Sin, — If it were wished to have obtained a full exposition of the views of the " Members of the Church of England" in Auckland and the country districts, upon the late Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of kew Zealand, and upon the Constitution proposed therein, it is a matter of regret that, as is usual m large districts, each clergyman did not assemble his parishioners for the purpose of discussing it, and not leave the subject in the hands of one Meeting, called at Auckland, where few, if any, of the country laymen were present, but where all the clergymen flocked from their respective parishes. It is hard enough ofteD to get laymen to stir in Church matters within their own parishes; and it is obviously a piactical burking of their opinions to assemble a Meeting on such matters at a distance from their own Churches and homes. Moreover, as the Notice convoking the Meeting was only signed by residents at Auckland, it was naturally supposed that inert- ly those in Us neighbourhood were invited ; and to this circumstance I also attribute the great scarcity of country laymen. I still hope that clergjmen in the different parishes will publicly consult their congregations on tins important subject, and I feel sure none of the Auckland parish will come to influence their deliberations. I remain, &c, A Mfmder of the Church or England